Search Eminism.org

  • Enter search term(s):

Exploiting the Dead

why are poor trans people honoured only after they die?

Forum: Transecting the Academy list
Date: 11/07/2005

I and the rest of the Southern California Transgender Community Coalition invite all of you to the Los Angeles Day of Remembrance. (If you know of DOR activities happening in your city, I would encourage you to attend and contribute.) This is the day when we remember those who have been killed due to gender based violence and hate. Use this opportunity to take a long, hard look at the reality of evil in our world. This is a good time to acknowledge the darkness that resides within, but also to embrace our Divinity, each of us as Beings of light. We are all capable of so much evil, each and every one of us, but we are also capable of such goodness and compassion. We mourn those who have fallen due to transphobia and genderism, but we also celebrate their lives and their contribution to the Universe.

I've attended Day of Remembrance events for several years, but it always bugs me to hear people say that these people were killed because transphobia. For great majority of them, they were also killed because of racism, sexism, poverty, etc. We as a community seem to only honor poor trans people, trans people of colour, trans people living or working on the street, etc. after they are dead, and even then only one aspect of their lives...

- ek

http://eminism.org/ * Putting the Emi back in Feminism since 1975.