Transgender Day Of Remembrance was marked locally at a memorial service at the Museum of Liverpool.
Around 50 people attended the event, which has taken place at the museum for the past four years and was held at the People’s Republic gallery on the top floor.
The event has been an annual day of recognition on November 20th for the past 17 years and honours the memory of those whose lives have been lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
Among those speaking at the memorial service was Sophie Green, a Liverpool artist and co-creator of the ‘Liverpool Trans’ and ‘Trans Girls Can’ charities.
She told JMU Journalism: “Today gives us the chance to memorialise the trans people across the world who have faced oppression and are marginalised and the individuals who have lost their lives due to transphobic acts of hate. There’s some terrible crimes committed against trans people across the world for all kinds of reasons.”
YouTube: Transgender Europe
A survey conducted by LGBT charity PACE three years ago revealed that 48% of trans defining people under the age of 24 had admitted to attempting suicide in the UK alone. Worldwide this year there are 295 names on the list of those who have died due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, which appears to grow every year.
On Friday, there was a handover of the transgender flag at Liverpool Town Hall between representatives of Liverpool’s LGBT community and civic leaders. The flag was flown at half-mast and the Town Hall was lit up in pink and blue.
A wreath was laid at the service, which will be displayed at the museum for the rest of the week with a sign explaining its meaning.
A vigil will also take place today between 6 and 8pm at Exchange Station near Moorfields Station.
Sophie said: “On Monday we will memorialise all of the names of those lost and we have a film that we’ve produced which is very emotional. I think it’s very important to have visibility and that trans people that can be visible, lead by example and share lives widen the understanding of trans issues.
“Although people are getting on board with it, there’s still a lot of misunderstanding and hatred out there. So we just have to keep on top of that and keep pushing forwards.”