A ceremony for Transgender Day of Remembrance will take place in Downtown Auckland this evening. This event, and a similar gathering held in Wellington's Civic Square on Sunday 19th November memorialise transgender people around the world who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Organiser Tom Hamilton of GenderBridge says Days of Remembrance take place around the world in November. “I personally experienced my first Remembrance Day in Chicago in 2001,” he explains. “It was so moving and such an honour to stop and gather to remember those brothers and sisters who went through so much. I have not missed a year since. “2004 was the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in Wellington, then in 2005 one was held in Auckland. This year we have two happening a week apart. It was just a matter of getting people in the community to recognise the date and find some time to remember,” says Hamilton. Tonights event will feature a speech from Jack Byrne of the Human Rights Commission and a song from Sara Rose. The gathering starts at 6pm on the corner of Queen and Customs Streets, Downtown Auckland. Ref: GayNZ.com, Genderbridge (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 27th November 2006 - 12:00pm