November 20th each year is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. It’s the day when we honour those who have lost their lives through transphobic violence. The list of those who have been murdered for being who they are is so harrowing to read.
Nobody should face fear, intimidation, discrimination and violence because of who they are. As the forces of intolerance appear to have the upper hand in politics in too many places, those of us who believe in freedom, diversity and equality have our work cut out for us.
This is a day to remember those who have died but also to re-affirm our own commitment to not put up with a world where this sort of thing happens. It isn’t going to become a more tolerant place by itself. We have to make it happen, one person at a time, by questioning prejudice whenever we see it, whether it’s round the dining room table with our grandparents, in the pub, at work or in the party.
LGBT+ Lib Dems has statements from Lorely Burt and LGBT+ secretary Zoe O’Connell, who is one of the few transgender people to have stood for Parliament.
Baroness Lorely Burt, the Liberal Democrats Equalities Spokesperson, said “This year has hardly been a beacon of openness and tolerance in some of the political events that we have witnessed. That is why today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we shine a light for you, who suffer the repercussions of prejudice and ignorance all over the world. We are thinking of you, and we fight with you for a more open, tolerant and accepting world.”
Zoe O’Connell, Secretary of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats and transgender former parliamentary candidate, added “It is sobering that one of the main events in the calendar of our communities is one not of celebration, but of mourning. In the face of increasing intolerance and bigotry, we continue to fight for a world in which everyone, no matter who or where they are, is free to be themselves.“
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
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6 Comments
Caron
This is very poignant. It is a shocking thing , reading the link, Caron posts here, the extent of violence in Brazil, a democratic Olympics , host ! We must recognise that some countries have made real progress on attitudes and others have not , and keep very on our toes in our countries!
The enlightenment of the far east is alluded to in historical, literary and spiritual sources or metaphors. Sometimes this is inaccurate or mere stereotype. On this it is truer than not . It delights me to see the attitudes in countries like , the Philipines, that has elected Geraldine Roman, of our sister Liberal Party , to office. Brilliant !
We mourn those murdered . We defend those with us. We must be harsh with the purveyors of hate .
I send regards to Caron and her husband , wondering if things are improving for you both.
Thanks, Lorenzo. My husband came home on Friday! So good to have him here even if my Fitbit is exploding with running up and down the stairs & I have pulled a muscle in my brain working out his meds.
I spoke to a friend today who said I sounded happier than I had done in weeks – that’s about right!
I won’t be back on here full time for a wee while yet – he still needs a lot of attention and the path of recovery from cardiac surgery can be a bit one step forward, two back.
Caron,
Thank you for the reply Caron, glad he is home , but now time for the nagging of him, and you, for you both of you, to look after yourselves amidst the stress !
Do not over do it , and try and see this site as like one of your kids , it benefits from you, but because it has had that , but is growing up too, it can fend for itself regularly, or with the help of family, good folks we all know and appreciate, and function well with mum flitting in and out as and when!
Actually , I would give the reverse advice if I knew it would aid the recovery , and help you and yours , not sure how stressful or otherwise you find LDV, do whats right and what works. Liberal advice !
I think I would like to do more LDV because my head is bursting with things to write about but I am struggling to find the time to fit it in at the moment. When I don’t have anything to do, I mostly just want to sleep:-).
If only there were a way of transferring my random thoughts directly from my brain to the internet..
‘ In the face of increasing intolerance and bigotry, we continue to fight for a world, in which everyone, no matter who or where they are, is free to be themselves’.
Amen to that.
Here’s to the day when there are no additional people to be added to the list of remembrance.