[Online event] Beyond CIStemic violence: celebrating trans resilience

Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is a moment of solidarity. It is a day to remember trans people – disproportionately trans women of colour – who have passed, often having fallen victim to systemic forms of anti-trans violence. In particular, TDoR is an occasion to acknowledge and recognise the tremendous resilience that trans communities throughout the world demonstrate in the face of high levels of violence and marginalisation.

Our communities continue to engage in vital movement building and socially transformative work despite high levels of violence, threats, and risks of verbal, physical and emotional assault levelled against us. In terms of global trans rights advocacy, TDoR provides an opportunity to reinforce our collective action against systemic discrimination and disproportionate levels of violence that affect trans people worldwide.

TDoR is also an occasion to reflect upon the agency, resilience, and power of non-cisnormative indigenous peoples of gender identities and expressions specific to their cultures, who are often at the frontline against climate change-related threats to our ecosystems. In the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we draw upon TDoR to highlight the force with which our communities worldwide have stepped up to take care of each other and to strengthen our support networks.

It is in this spirit that TGEU has partnered with ILGA World, GATE, the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), the East Africa Trans Health & Advocacy Network (EATHAN), and the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) to host an online event to commemorate TDoR 2020. This event will be held on 19 November 2020, the day before TDoR, and will provide a strong focus on the multiple forms of systemic violence that trans people face worldwide. This event intends to provide a much-needed platform for our communities to come together, and to amplify the voices of trans communities with multiple intersecting identities and experiences who face numerous adverse challenges to security and safety.

Speakers

• Ymania Brown, Co-Secretary General, ILGA World (video message)
• Lukas Berredo, TvT project coordinator, TGEU
• Chamindra Weerawardana, Consultant Gender Identity & Expression and Sex Characteristics Programme, ILGA World
• Sabrina Sánchez, Co-Chair ICRSE Board
• Ceyenne Doroshow, Glitz, USA (tbc)
• Viviane Vergueiro, Programme Officer, International Trans Fund
• Nisha Ayub, Co-founder and Project Director, SEED Foundation, Malaysia
• Liberty Matthyse, Executive Director, Gender DynamiX, South Africa (tbc)

Moderation

Erika Castellanos, Director of Programmes, GATE