Transgender Day of Remembrance is November 20
The University of Prince Edward Island will observe the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance on Wednesday, November 20, by flying the transgender flag and lowering all flags to half-mast. The Transgender Day of Remembrance has been held every year on November 20 since 1999, after the deaths of Rita Hester and Chanelle Pickett, transgender women in the United States. The day calls attention to the transgender and gender diverse people who have lost their lives due to anti-trans violence, and raises awareness around the continued adversity that trans people face in our society.
Vigils are being held around the world to remember the lives lost to anti-trans violence, and to remember that there is much more work to be done to support transgender communities on this serious issue. PEERS Alliance will hold a Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil on November 20 from 12:00–1:00 pm at its office at 250B Queen Street, Charlottetown.
Transgender communities, and in particular transgender people of colour, face some of the highest rates of violent crime—with 70% of trans youth in Canada experiencing some form of sexual harassment or violence. Transgender and non-binary youth are more than twice as likely to have thought of self-harm in their lifetime compared to those who are cisgender (a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex registered for them at birth).
These statistics, coupled with the rising tide of hateful speech in Canada surrounding 2SLGBTQI+ communities, are troubling, and the impacts on mental health cannot be ignored. It is important to support each other. For a list of supports, visit UPEI’s Department of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights web site to access the “Find Supports and Services” web pages. For more information, you may also visit the following links:
- PEI Transgender Network: https://www.peitn.com/
- PEERS Alliance: https://www.peersalliance.ca/
UPEI welcomes diversity and is committed to creating a culture of trust, safety, and inclusion for transgender people. Together, we can foster a campus community of inclusivity and support, ensuring that everyone feels safe and valued.
