For the first time in history supporters raised the blue, pink and white flag of the trans community at Queen’s Park to mark International Trans Day of Remembrance.
“We publicly mourn and honor those who have died due to transphobic hatred and prejudice,” said NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo.
“These are lives of those who might otherwise be forgotten.”
DiNovo tabled a bill at Queen’s Park proclaiming November 20 of every year as the ‘Trans Day of Remembrance’ in Ontario.
Transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith started the annual event as a way to honour the memory of Rita Hester.
Hester was a transgender woman killed in 1998 in Allston, Massachusetts. Events today are happening all across the world but mostly in the US.
Interactive Map: Trans Day of Remembrance Events Across the World