Written by Peter Hackney

Monday 16 November, 2009

Originally posted at GayACT. View complete article at their website.

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Sex and gender diverse people who have been murdered in hate crimes will be commemorated this Friday, November 20 with the eleventh annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The National LGBT Health Alliance said that as well as a tribute to victims of transphobia, the day served as a call to end the violence.

“The Transgender Day of Remembrance honours those who have been killed, but it is also a call to end the transphobia that damages and ends so many people’s lives,” said the organisation’s Executive Director, Gabi Rosenstreich.

Canberra-based information and support group A Gender Agenda (AGA) said the occasion was an opportune time to highlight the fact that all Australian jurisdictions required surgical intervention before recognising a sex change – a situation that placed people at risk when travelling overseas.

“A lot of trans people don’t want or can’t have sex affirmation surgery, for example, for financial or medical reasons,” said AGA spokesperson Peter Hyndal. “This effectively leaves them with documentation that ‘outs’ them.”

A 2007 Tranznation study noted that discrepancies between a person’s gender identity and the information on their passport “can turn a simple ‘stamp and move on’ procedure’ into a ridicule and transphobic encounter even putting your wellbeing and life in danger”.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance will be marked by various events around the world, including a candlelight vigil in the ACT, to be held at Glebe Park, Civic from 6pm.