Trans Day of Remembrance – Heledd Muir-McCann
(Pronounced /Hel-leth Myoor muh-Can/ or /ˈhɛleːð mjuːr məˈkan/)
Trans Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honour Rita Hester, a trans woman murdered the year prior. Each year on the 20th November, vigils are held to remember the trans and non-binary people lost to murder or suicide. The list grows ever longer, with around 320 more added in 2023. These are only the deaths we are aware of. The people on this list illustrate a worrying trend, in which violence against our community has been rising and trans people of colour are especially affected; 94% of the names belonged to trans women or trans-feminine people, most of which were black. This is consistent with a stark rise in transgender hate crimes reported in England and Wales over the past decade. Both of these figures are only the ones that get reported, with many more going unrecorded.
It is a stressful time to live as a trans person, with even UN experts voicing their concern; independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity Victor Madrigal-Borloz visited the UK in May. In his statement, he remarked on the “toxic nature of the public debate surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity” was in part cultivated by “abusive rhetoric by politicians, the media and social commentators has trickled down to produce increasingly abusive and hateful speech against LGBT persons.”
We are not free of this discrimination in PCS either – Mark Serwotka has publicly announced his support for his wife’s organisation Women’s Place UK, a transphobic organisation that opposes the right for people to self-identify their legal gender without medical approval (already approved in 20 countries). Our leadership in the NEC has received censure at both 2019 and 2023 Annual Conference for its conduct relating to trans and wider LGBTQ+ issues; in a vote regarding removing PCS Proud of their semi-autonomous status, the NEC delayed the process with an unnecessary card vote, but over 70,000 votes opposed their motion. Most notorious were the antics surrounding Motion A50 in this year’s annual conference. A50 addressed the refusal of the NEC to accept PCS Proud’s nomination of a delegate for the TUC LGBT+ Committee. It was revealed the president of Left Unity had privately insisted her supporters filibuster a prior debate to stop others from being discussed, this motion included; despite these tactics, the motion managed to be discussed and was passed decisively.
To begin tackling the tragedy and injustice highlighted inTrans Day of Remembrance, we must have leadership in our union that is firmly behind all LGBTQ+ rights as they should be all other demographics of worker.
Many of us fear things shall only get worse, but I am certain in my belief that if the trans community and our allies keep making a concerted effort to resist the people and institutions facilitating this hateful environment, the future will begin to look brighter. The violence and healthcare crisisthat has taken so many lives will one day evaporate, and trans and gender diverse people will one day live without fear of violence. The list and all 320 additions this year serve as a stark reminder of our necessity to believe a better future is possible.