Trans Day of Remembrance, observed on November 20, is a solemn occasion to remember and honor those who have tragically lost their lives due to ignorance and hatred directed against them solely because of their transgender identity or non-conformist.
“Social, legal and physical attacks against trans people are on the rise in Canada, both in number and in terms of level of cruelty. We must end this violence,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. Every trans adult has already been a trans young person and it is up to all of us to ensure that the rights of children are respected so that they can grow up and live in complete freedom. »
On November 20, Unifor encourages all members to actively participate in this vital day of remembrance. We invite you to participate in community events and take advantage of union resources to raise awareness and show your support.
“Participate in a vigil, speak with people from the trans and queer community, and listen to the stories of survivors of hate crimes and anti-trans violence,” Payne added.
The seeds of anti-trans violence, whether prejudice is perpetuated by family members, strangers, or intimate partners, are sown through behaviors like questioning the existence of trans people, refusing to provide health care to these people and attempts to erase trans people from the public sphere. We have also seen decisions based on hatred and violence on a national scale, including anti-trans laws passed in Alberta and Saskatchewan as well as a marked rollback of trans rights in the United States, a reality that accentuates the importance and urgency of working to promote equality, respect and safety for all. However, it is encouraging to see that voters have mobilized to defeat the anti-trans government of Blaine Higgs, an effort that demonstrates that we can succeed when we oppose the priorities of regressive conservative governments.
As Unifor pushes for intimate partner violence to be declared epidemic in every province and territory across the country, the union recognizes that trans women and non-binary people are significantly over-represented in cases of intimate partner violence. intimate partners.
Unifor will continue to speak out against decisions that are unfavorable to members of this community and defend the rights of workers, including those of trans members, against governments that seek to target these vulnerable people.
