Today, in honor of International Transgender Day of Remembrance, I would like to take the time out to write about and remember our trans brothers and sisters who have died or otherwise been victims of violence due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. While not included in the official "death stats," this also includes those members of the trans community who have inflicted self-harm or committed suicide as a means of escaping a society that has not been ready to love and accept them as people.
What is important to remember, in the midst of a still very transphobic society here in the U.S., is that these victims were not all transgender (some were transvestites, cross-dressers, or other gender-variants), yet they were all harmed due to bias against transpeople as a whole.
I think this rampant transphobia warrants a further discussion on genderism (the belief that there are only two genders, and that gender is is inevitably tied into biological sex). This is something I am passionate about, yet in light of the day, I will remain silent, leaving only this quote by which to remember our trans brothers and sisters who have passed on at the hands of others:
"The violence, discrimination and hatred heaped upon differently-gendered people is an enormous wrong. This bigotry will stop only when the rest of "us" are able to accept our own gender conflicts and pinpoint our own prejudices about biological sex and social sex-roles."
-Pat Califia
Thursday, November 20, 2008
In honor of trans day of rememberance
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2 comments:
Thank you, Jane.
You're welcome, Seda. Sometimes, I catch myself thinking only about myself and being a cis-gendered lesbian. When trans people have their own (usually more difficult) set of challenges that need to be remembered as distinct from gay and lesbian people. You have helped me remember that. Thank you.
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