History made at Alberta Legislature on Transgender Day of Remembrance

EDMONTON –  People gathered in the Friday morning cold on the grounds of the Alberta legislature to remember and make history.

Nov. 20 marks the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

“Today we remember you, today we honour you,” said advocate Marni Panas.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Today we remember you, today we honour you," said advocate Marni Panas.

“We gather here today to remember our dead,” Jan Lukas Buterman told the assembled crowd of about 75 people.  Buterman is the president of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta.

READ MORE: ‘I need you to stand withe me’: Alberta education minister asks school boards to support LGBTQ policy 

Following several speeches, there was a moment of silence.

“We remember them because quite often, their names are not even remembered,” Panas told Global News following the ceremony.

“But today we need to remember them and give them the voice that they felt that they never had.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "But today we need to remember them and give them the voice that they felt that they never had."

In honour of the day, and for the first time at the Alberta legislature grounds, the Transgender Pride flag was raised; a symbolic move which was warmly welcomed by the crowd.

“It does signal that the province is very much aware of the kinds of issues that trans people face,” Buterman said.

READ MORE: Alberta adds gender protection to Human Rights law 

On Thursday, the province put forward legislation to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression.

“I think Albertans have changed,” added cabinet minister Shannon Phillips.

“I think that Alberta is a progressive, vibrant place where the vast majority of us believe in a vibrant and equal society.”

The transgender pride flag is located on the south side of the federal building, and will be flying until the middle of next week.