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Honoring The Death Of Trans Sisters And Brothers

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BY AJ TRAGER<\/em>
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\n NATIONAL –<\/b> On Nov. 28, 1998, transgender woman of color Rita Hester was murdered in Allston, Massachusetts<\/a>. Sixteen years later the LGBT community continues to internationally honor Transgender Day of Remembrance<\/a> (TDoR) and memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia<\/a>.
\n\"TDoR is when we all get together and we remember all of our community who had to die. All of everyone who we have lost. I think it also gives us energy to do something about it. By gathering all together we gain energy from each other. And we are going to need energy in this coming year,\" Rachel Crandall co-founder of Transgender Michigan said.
\nSince June, 11 trans women have been murdered, ten of the fallen were trans women of color. The latest to lose her life,
Gizzy Fowler<\/a>, 24, was found shot to death in Nashville Nov. 12 and at the time of this publication, her killer has yet to be found.
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Many of the assailants<\/a> are not tried for their crimes, let alone found and media organizations continuously misrepresent the trans community, misgendering or painting the trans community in negative light or as potential predators.
\nThis problem is not going away. Crandall says that police agencies still have a hard time handling non-binary gender identities and sexual orientations and are often ill-equipped when responding to calls from the trans community. Working closely together, Transgender Michigan and Equality Michigan, are committed to training police in how to handle those calls.
\nThe National Transgender Discrimination
Survey from 2004<\/a> reported that black transgender people are eight times more likely than the general population and three times more likely than black cis-gendered (non-transgender) people to live in extreme poverty and were significantly more likely to experience debilitating discrimination. The study had a difficult time determining if the discrimination was because of anti-transgender bias or structural and interpersonal acts of racism.
\n\"We need to keep in mind that most incidences of sexual assault and discrimination are not reported, only a very small amount are,\" Crandall explained.
\nMost of the transgender community in Michigan lives in poverty. \"Just look at the poverty line,\" Crandall said. The statistics from around the country are staggering and the numbers of assaults on trans people is still on the rise.
\n\"One thing that we don't often talk about that I'd like to mention is sexual assault against transgender women. I personally know two local transgender women who have been sexually assaulted within the last month. If two were out out about it, how many are really happening? We don't hear anyone mentioning that. Sexual assault can leave scars for a long, long time and it can add to the guilt and shame regarding being trans.\"
\nBut that is not the only way the larger community is forgetting to be trans inclusive. Just this past week in Lansing legislators began negotiations over an amendment to the state's civil rights act to include sexual orientation but not gender identity. Supporters of the amendment have said they would amend it a second time later on to include gender identity, but until that shift was made Michigan residents would have a license to discriminate against trans people.
\n\"People say, we will come back for you. No. It doesn't happen that way. It has to be all of us or nothing. We are forgetting the people who are affected,\" Crandall pressed. \"That is what is happening with all of the politics, the people are being forgotten.\"
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Transgender Michigan<\/a> would like to see a fully inclusive bill with no religious exemptions pass through the Michigan legislature. That would then offer full discrimination protections to all people living in the mitten state.
\nFor Transgender Day of Remembrance, Crandall is spending it at the University of Michigan where they will hold ceremonies for fallen loved ones.
\n\"It really brings it home to our future by honoring at colleges and universities. That is where the activists and the politicians of the future are right now. By holding it there we are really affecting the future.\"
\nTDoR was observed by over 185 cities throughout more than 20 countries and is celebrated with candlelight vigils, art shows, food drives, film screenings and marches in 2010.
\nThe top national funders for trans issues in 2011 and 2012 include The Open Society Foundations which gave $2,730,808; Arcus Foundation giving $1,107,500; Tides Foundation $707,500; The Paul Rapoport Foundation giving $678,500; American Jewish World Service giving $455,000; Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice giving $377,510; New York Women's Foundation giving $360,00;
Gill Foundation<\/a> with $317,500; Anonymous with $1,325,000 and amfAR, Foundation for AIDS Research with $305,531 for a grand total of $10.3 million.
\nTo find an event in the area click
visit transgendermichigan.org<\/a> for their full list of TDoR services in the state.<\/p>\n<\/div>"]

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