‘We are human beings’: Trans community honours those killed in violence

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack was one of several dignitaries who observed Transgender Day of Remembrance on Thursday.

Transgender people who were killed in acts of anti-trans violence were honoured at Edmonton’s only LGBTQ2S+ bar on Thursday, the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

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The day of commemoration was started in 1999 to honour a transgender woman, Rita Hester, who had been murdered the year before in Massachusetts.

Since then, a total of 366 trans people have been killed in acts of violence, according to organizers.

“I’m not proud of remembering 366 trans people,” said Adebayo Katiiti, a trans man from Uganda who founded Rarica Now, a non-profit organization that works to protect the rights of LGBTIQ2S+ refugees and newcomers. “What I can say (is) I’m proud I’m still here, that I’m still existing, that I’m still talking to you, that I’m still doing the work I’m doing for the community.”

He said it was especially important for the community to gather in light of a recent comparison by an Alberta MLA of gender-affirming treatment to livestock castration, as well as provincial legislation affecting transgender youth, which Katiiti said “endanger” transgender Albertans.

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He encouraged other Albertans to educate themselves about trans people.

“We are human beings. We are not a threat to no system,” Katiiti said.

“It takes nothing to be kind, to really see people as people.”

Dozens attended the event at Evo on Jasper Avenue, which had brought in Miss Angelica Ross, a trans-rights activist and entrepreneur who started a firm that helps transgender people find employment in the tech industry.

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack also attended to proclaim the day of remembrance.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall