News. Cover image via TransMission PR
To mark Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20th November, Trans Aid Cymru, together with national trans+ charity Not A Phase and friends held a candlelit vigil at Cardiff National Museum.
The event provided an opportunity for trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals, along with their allies, to come together to remember the lives lost over the past year and listen to community members as they shared their stories.
Kay, a spokesperson from Trans Aid Cymru, said: “We are hugely thankful for everyone who attended, and everyone who spoke about their experiences and loved ones. Being able to come together like this is always a sad occasion, but we also treasure it as we’re surrounded by those we love.”
“It’s so important at these times to come together as a community, to remember the importance of mutual aid and looking after each other, and to stand up for those who need it most.”
Speaking prior to the event, Kay had expressed their desire to provide a space where folks could gather and reflect to mourn the trans lives lost in the previous year, as well as think of their queer and trans siblings internationally, who had been lost to what they described as an “epidemic of waitlists” for vital trans healthcare and mainstream anti-trans rhetoric.
There is a severe lack of gender-affirming healthcare services for young trans kids in Wales. The Wales Gender Service, responsible for providing support and treatment regarding gender issues to GPs, has faced massive backlash, with average waiting times just for an initial appointment, where the person’s background, circumstances and future plans are discussed, being over 14 months.
People have also been made to wait for almost two years for appointments, with the service experiencing a huge increase in demand as there has been a trend of GPs referring the cases to the clinic.
As a result, teenagers are forced to flock to England for any form of support, which could be destructive given the waitlist of up to six years.
Another UK Government’s Home Office report showed that despite a fall in the number of racist and homophobic hate crimes, those against transgender people hit a record high in Wales and England last year, with an increase of 11 per cent from the previous year.
The report also said that comments made by politicians and the media over the last year may have led to an increase in these offences.
Danielle St James, Chief Exec of Not A Phase, spoke about the event: “This year our community has continued to be targeted from all sides, from the continued barriers to timely, life-saving healthcare to the rise in hate crime and our own prime minister denying our very existence.
Sunak’s speech at the Conservative conference solidified his and his party’s transphobic stance when he argued against the recognition and validity of transgender identities.
“Today we came together to show our love for those we have lost, from the names we have all learned through tragic circumstances including Brianna Ghey, Alice Litman and Corei Hall, to those who remain nameless. We stand with you in solidarity and will continue to hold space for you, long after our candles have blown out.”
