The Martlet

What good is one day carved out of 365 to remember those lost to gender-based violence? It’s a shot in the arm for us to realize how important these issues are — issues that go unnoticed for some and linger every day for others.

There will always be support groups for those who need help. There will always be tucked-away niche organizations to give people hope that they are not alone — whether in an emotional or practical sense. But groups like these can only help those who seek them out. They can only reach those who reach back.

It’s the days — the one-day-a-year days — that make the rest of us stop and consider the impact we have: whether we’re the ones needing help, or the ones oblivious to it all.

The problem is, while the rights and social acceptance of gays, lesbians and bisexuals may be increasing (however slowly) in society, tolerance and understanding of transgender and gender-variant people is still void.

In fact, trans people aren’t even covered by the B.C. Human Rights Code. The code does not explicitly name gender identity or expression as grounds protected from discrimination, despite the fact that the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has consistently ruled (since 1999) that trans people are eligible for protection from discrimination on the basis of their sex.

Last year, the Trans Alliance Society (TAS) formally requested that the code be amended to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression. But getting that kind of legislation to pass is another matter — one that relies on politicians to bring these issues into the B.C. legislature. And, as we all know, the people who need protection the most are generally not the ones in power.

Of course, amending a code does not, by itself, serve as a remedy for all the issues that transgendered people face. Discrimination will continue, if we allow it, but (as others have pointed out) the community would at least have a new tool at its disposal.

The TAS has asked for this to be an issue that all political parties rally on, but that takes people power showing the government what is wanted.

Again, enter the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Imagine what could happen if, with one day, we could all show those in power how important this issue is to us — if we could all walk around with the black ribbons on our arms, chanting in solidarity with those who have been lost and have been left unprotected by the law.

Well, guess what? We can.

On Nov. 20, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Fernwood Square, the group TransAction will be hosting a remembrance rally for trans and gender-variant individuals who have lost their lives to transphobic, queerphobic and sexist violence and discrimination. And they need the support of allies.

We all know it takes numbers to make a difference. It takes us realizing that gender issues affect all of us, not just those who have experienced the violence. It’s the difference of a little time for some; it’s the difference of a lot of freedom for others.