TESA ACKNOWLEDGES THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF TDOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Wednesday, November 20, 2019 – ALBERTA
TESA ACKNOWLEDGES THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF TDOR
The Board of Directors of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA), would like to formally recognize that today marks the 20th Anniversary of the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which is held around the world on November 20th of each year. TDOR’s purpose is to raise public awareness of the continued hatred and violence that is endured by the transgender community by honouring the lives of transgender individuals who were killed as a result of transphobia, which is the hatred or fear of transgender and gender non-conforming / gender non-binary individuals.
“The transgender population doesn’t pose a threat to anyone, yet people spend so much time and effort hating us,” says Stephanie Shostak, a TESA Board Member/Director. “I am disappointed but not surprised that the current provincial government waited until 10 am today, to acknowledged TDOR, via a government statement but did not formally plan any activities, such a flag raising in both Edmonton and Calgary, like it was done with the previous government.”
In the past year, 331 transgender individuals around the world were killed, with 31 of those deaths in the United States. Fortunately, this year, there were no Canadians on this list. TDOR was started in 1999 as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester's death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual TDOR.
TESA’s mission is to be a witness and a voice for matters concerning trans Albertans. “The previous government acknowledged TDOR in the past with both statements and flag raisings in both Edmonton and Calgary. For this current government to not formally do a flag raising in both Edmonton and Calgary and who continue to state that they are an ally of the LGBTQI2S+ community; this action speaks volumes. All their statement does is pay lip service to the LGBTQI2S+ community. Being an ally of the community takes more than just issuing a short statement,” said Shostak.
Although the provincial government has been silent on TDOR, some community organizations have planned their own activities. Skipping Stone and members of the trans and gender diverse community have organized a Trans Day of Remembrance - City Hall Vigil at the Municipal Plaza at City Hall, in Calgary, starting at Noon. Rarica Now, an organization for all LGBTIQ+ refugees in Canada have organized a march, starting at Noon, from the Beaverhills Park to the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, that will be followed by speakers and then will be holding a vigil at the Pride Centre of Edmonton from 3-6 pm.
More information about TESA can be found at http://www.tesaonline.org
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Please also see:
Government of Alberta TDOR Statement 2019
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=66136604C5A9E-0F90-D03B-931A5AE38EEB1469
Skipping Stone (Calgary TDOR 2019 Event)
https://www.facebook.com/events/931126113924678/
Rarica Now (Edmonton TDOR 2019 Event)
https://www.facebook.com/events/2432967770103122/
Media contacts can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at
Stephanie Shostak, TESA Director/Board Member, 780-913-3098
Holly Tomm, TESA Director/Board President, 780-717-2744
back to Newsroom | back to About
TESA ACKNOWLEDGES THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF TDOR
The Board of Directors of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA), would like to formally recognize that today marks the 20th Anniversary of the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which is held around the world on November 20th of each year. TDOR’s purpose is to raise public awareness of the continued hatred and violence that is endured by the transgender community by honouring the lives of transgender individuals who were killed as a result of transphobia, which is the hatred or fear of transgender and gender non-conforming / gender non-binary individuals.
“The transgender population doesn’t pose a threat to anyone, yet people spend so much time and effort hating us,” says Stephanie Shostak, a TESA Board Member/Director. “I am disappointed but not surprised that the current provincial government waited until 10 am today, to acknowledged TDOR, via a government statement but did not formally plan any activities, such a flag raising in both Edmonton and Calgary, like it was done with the previous government.”
In the past year, 331 transgender individuals around the world were killed, with 31 of those deaths in the United States. Fortunately, this year, there were no Canadians on this list. TDOR was started in 1999 as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester's death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual TDOR.
TESA’s mission is to be a witness and a voice for matters concerning trans Albertans. “The previous government acknowledged TDOR in the past with both statements and flag raisings in both Edmonton and Calgary. For this current government to not formally do a flag raising in both Edmonton and Calgary and who continue to state that they are an ally of the LGBTQI2S+ community; this action speaks volumes. All their statement does is pay lip service to the LGBTQI2S+ community. Being an ally of the community takes more than just issuing a short statement,” said Shostak.
Although the provincial government has been silent on TDOR, some community organizations have planned their own activities. Skipping Stone and members of the trans and gender diverse community have organized a Trans Day of Remembrance - City Hall Vigil at the Municipal Plaza at City Hall, in Calgary, starting at Noon. Rarica Now, an organization for all LGBTIQ+ refugees in Canada have organized a march, starting at Noon, from the Beaverhills Park to the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, that will be followed by speakers and then will be holding a vigil at the Pride Centre of Edmonton from 3-6 pm.
More information about TESA can be found at http://www.tesaonline.org
-- 30 --
Please also see:
Government of Alberta TDOR Statement 2019
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=66136604C5A9E-0F90-D03B-931A5AE38EEB1469
Skipping Stone (Calgary TDOR 2019 Event)
https://www.facebook.com/events/931126113924678/
Rarica Now (Edmonton TDOR 2019 Event)
https://www.facebook.com/events/2432967770103122/
Media contacts can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at
Stephanie Shostak, TESA Director/Board Member, 780-913-3098
Holly Tomm, TESA Director/Board President, 780-717-2744
back to Newsroom | back to About