Executive Council
November 18, 2013

Preventing Violence in Our Communities and Families

Transgender Day of Remembrance Honours Transgender Victims of Violence

To honour transgender individuals who lost their lives as a result of anti-transgender violence, and to raise public awareness of violence endured by the transgender community, November 20 marks Transgender Day of Remembrance.

“As a government, we are committed to embracing the diversity of all people in the province. Violence against transgender individuals is an issue that we all must come together to address. By promoting awareness and acceptance we can help stop violence and create a society where violence against transgender individuals is considered unacceptable.”
- The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Through the Violence Prevention Initiative, the Provincial Government works with community partners and stakeholders to address the root causes of violence and abuse against transgender individuals, as all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have the right to live, work and learn in a society free from fear and harm.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• The Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honours the memory of those murdered in acts of anti-transgender violence, is recognized annually on November 20.
• The Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honour the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in Boston in 1998. The vigil began an important memorial that has become an annual day of remembrance.
• The Transgender Murder Monitoring Project reported that 238 transgender persons were murdered worldwide over the past 12 months.
• The Violence Prevention Initiative brings together over 30 community partners and 10 Provincial Government departments and agencies to support long-term solutions for those most at risk of violence.
• The Provincial Government invests approximately $1.6 million annually through the Violence Prevention Initiative. Additional information on the Violence Prevention Initiative can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/vpi/.

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Media contact:
Heather Maclean
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca 

2013 11 20                                     3:25 p.m