Transgender Day of Remembrance marked in Nanaimo

Dozens of people held a candlelight vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance at the historic Bastion in downtown Nanaimo on Monday, Nov. 20. Photo: Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM.

Dozens of people held a candlelight vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance at the historic Bastion in downtown Nanaimo on Monday, Nov. 20, which was lit up in the colours of the trans flag.

People took turns reading the names of transgender and gender non-conforming people around the world who died from transphobia this year, including five from Canada.

Nanaimo Pride Society president Lauren Semple, left, watches former vice president Natalie Stewart speak at the Transgender Day of Remembrance in Nanaimo on Nov. 20, 2023. Photo: Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM.

“Today, we read over 300 names and that number keeps growing, which is scary in its own way,” said Lauren Semple, president of the Nanaimo Pride Society. “But what most marked today as notable is that the numbers in Canada are growing. I've been planning Trans Day of Remembrance vigils since 2016. And I don't think I've ever read more than one name from Canada before.”

Tami Nutting sings at the Transgender Day of Remembrance in Nanaimo on Nov. 20, 2023. Photo: Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM.

A statement by Premier David Eby said that, “There is no place for transphobia in our province. We continue to speak up against hate and to support our transgender, gender-diverse, non-binary and Two-Spirit friends, family members, neighbours and colleagues. All people deserve to live their lives knowing they are safe and loved.”

Semple says that the only times transgender people are recognized are the Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, and the Transgender Day of Remembrance in Novemeber.

Jack Bruckman listens to speakers reading over 300 names of transgender people who have died in the past year at the Transgender Day of Remembrance in Nanaimo on Nov. 20, 2023. Photo: Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM.

“It feels like the only two days we have celebrating trans people is one saying, ‘Hey, we exist,’ and the other saying, ‘Hey, we're dying’ and that's hard,” they said.

Semple says that the Transgender Day of Remembrance is always a hard day emotionally.

“As trans people, to have to get together year after year and mourn the loss of those who are just simply living their lives like we are — it's just very heavy on our hearts,” she said.

Semple says that observing the day helps motivate people to rededicate themselves to activism.

“It's a stark reminder that this fight is not across the border. It's not overseas, it's not just in Brazil and South America, it's here,” they said. “It's in Canada, and we need to be taking serious action to stop these numbers from going in the wrong direction.”

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.