Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil held in North Battleford

“It’s difficult,” said Bobbi Sue Thompson, president of Battlefords Area Pride.

“These are people that are killed just literally for being themselves, no other reason. Just simply because they’re brave enough to be themselves and face the world as themselves and they died for it.”

After Transgender Awareness Week, which ran from Nov. 13-19, Wednesday marked the 25th year since the first Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), which was founded by writer and advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith in 1999 in honour of Rita Hester, who had been stabbed 20 times the year prior.

Although only a handful of members from the community turned out, Rex Pete, who uses him/they pronouns said it still gave them hope. Pete had come back to the Battlefords after living away for about eight years and after joining the Pride group, discovered it was going to hold a TDoR event, Pete wanted to attend and lend a hand.

“In the city of North Battleford, it is not surprising that there’s only four of us here right now,” Pete said.

They explained that it also wasn’t surprising because unless it immediately impacts them or they don’t know anyone in the community, people won’t turn out for vigils or remembrance.

“Those who also want to be here but can’t – we don’t want to make them feel bad as well, but no matter the crowd, no matter how many people show up and no matter what, we’re still here, we’re still going to do these things,” said Pete.

“Trans lives matter. Even the ones who have been murdered or killed….and if there’s four of us here, that’s four more people who weren’t helping out before and remembering their names.”

From left: Bobbi Sue Thompson, Rex Pete, Sarah, Nathan and Arianna Plummer hold tea lights to honour the dead. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW/Staff)

For that, Pete was thankful.

“Four hearts are better than, you know, none.”

According to the TDoR website, From Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024, 427 trans people were reported dead around the world with data collected from over 60 countries. That was up from 320 the year before. However, according to GLADD – an LGBTQ media advocacy organization, because murders and deaths are often under reported or misreported, there isn’t a way to truly verify the numbers.

The Government of Canada website said transgender and gender diverse people are more likely than cisgender people to have been physically or sexually assaulted since their mid-teens.

Thompson explained that while the vigil was to honour the memories of the dead, they must not forget those who have survived.

“The effects of that are huge too and you know, it’s just hate. Hate for the sake of hating,” she said of the transgendered community being the current target.

“Many people hate just simply to feel like they’re better than somebody and unfortunately the results speak for themselves.”

As those in attendance (five turned out) chatted amongst themselves, they shared stories. One attendee said when a friend of hers passed earlier this year from a medical complication, the obituary misnamed her with the use of her deadname (birth name or name used before transitioning). Another said her name and face could have easily been added to the video as she nearly disappeared multiple times.

The day was a difficult one for Pete as the names and faces that scrolled by were only the ones who were reported and even then, some names remain unknown.

“It’s quite sad and quite devastating but at the same time not surprising, which is sad in itself,” they said.

“The fact that we have to have a day like this – a Transgender Day of Remembrance – should say a lot to people.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On X: jls194864

by Julia Lovett-Squires

Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil held in North Battleford

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