ON SUNDAY, November 20, Reading marked Transgender Day of Remembrance with a vigil.
Reading Pride project MyUmbrella LGBT+ organises the annual event, this year inviting the general public to take part in observing the date.
The vigil saw recorded contributions from a number of organisers and trustees of Reading’s LGBTQ+ charities and support groups, as well as from organisations outside of Reading.
MyUmbrella LGBT+ co-founder and team leader Christina Dearlove hosted, beginning the event by explaining that TDoR is: “a day for us to remember and mourn the lives lost to transphobic violence.”
“But also to come together as a community to support each other and fight for a future where trans, intersex, non-binary, gender non-conforming people can be safe and accepted worldwide.”
She was followed by an address given by the mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, who said that her message to the trans community was: “that you are welcome here.
“This is your town, too, and you are part of what makes Reading Reading, a place in which no time or effort is put into culture wars.
“We celebrate culture, we celebrate diversity, and we stand together against hatred.”
Cllr Eden was followed by addresses from the vice-chair of trustees at Reading Pride, Kirsten Bayes, R-Trans group leader at Support U, Angela Sydney Moore, and the Trans Historian at Newbury Museum, Jo Brydon.
Trans Radio UK’s Rory Sizer and MyUmbrella LGBT+’s co-founder, Kerry Kleis, both gave addresses, as did Cat Burton from the Gender Identity Research and Education Society, Kizzy Lee-Wimbridge, operations lead and volunteers co-ordinator at Newbury Pride, and Trans In The City’s Emily Hamilton.
Pride in Gloucestershire trustee Kate Glanfield, The Beaumont Society’s Andrea Christine Brooks, Trans Radio UK community news reporter Jason Potts, and Youtuber and activist Hannah Phillips also spoke in pre-recorded videos.
Kerry Kleis explored the government’s response to trans issues in the last year, highlighting a number of legislative decisions against trans people.
These included the appointment of the gender-critical lawyer Akua Reindorf to commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as well as then culture secretary Nadine Dories’ meetings with UK sporting bodies.
In the meetings, Dories said that elite and competitive women’s sports should be reserved for people “born” of female sex.
Blanket bans on trans women competing shortly followed from the British Triathlon, the Rugby Football League, and the Rugby Football Union.
In August, then attorney general Suella Braverman commented that it was “lawful” for schools to misgender or dead-name trans students, as well as ban them from some sports, reject their enrolment entirely, and refuse any and all other forms of gender affirmation to trans children.
She said also that to recognise their identity as trans would qualify as “indoctrinating” children.
Finally, the Rock Choir of Ascot, Bracknell, Henley, and Reading performed as the details of those lost to transphobia were shown on screen.
Names and photographs of those lost were shown as well as their country of origin and how they died.
One of the contributors, transgender filmmaker and activist Hannah Phillips, said that events like the Transgender Day of Remembrance were “absolutely quintessential.
“Because there’s such a vital message for many young people who are not necessarily part of the trans community or aren’t aware of people in the trans community.”
“So sharing small events and events like this taking place in Reading is vital for education for young people.”
She said it was also especially important that people come together to observe the event.
“It’s eye-opening for those who have no experience with it– there’s an element of emotion that you don’t get from reading a newspaper.
“You have to show up and feel the room– it’s heavy heavy stuff and everyone leaving this event today left with a whole new perspective on it.
“Many of us are trans and still have that new point of view, it hurts the heart but it also really makes you think about it.”
Kizzy Lee-Wimbridge, operations lead & volunteers co-ordinator at Newbury Pride, was also invited to speak about her experiences.
After the event, she said: “People seem to see it more as just statistics, a number or percentage– but hearing it from actual people helps to realise that these are humans, brothers, sisters, and loved ones.
“I think every person that the message gets out to can realise that they might’ve been doing stuff that is potentially killing someone.
“Then if one less person could have died, one person is saved.
“Even if only one person takes the message and thinks ‘Oh, I need to change this, and what I’ve been doing, they could save even more.”
Ms Philips agreed, saying: “It’s the element of it where one small action can impact a whole community.
“One tweet, one wrong headline, could mean a whole chain of an effect where individuals are losing their lives or getting a little bit more scared to outside and be themselves.”
“It’s more authentic to come to a vigil, hearing the stories first-hand, instead of just reading a headline on Twitter or Facebook.”
Andrea Christine Brookes, South of England regional organiser at the Beaumont Society, said: “It’s so difficult to get through to the media, and the cultural impact is absolutely critical.
“There’s always a member of the LGB Alliance and someone from another trans hate group on a panel with one trans woman defending her rights, but it isn’t a debate.”
Christina Dearlove and Kerry Kleis, the co-founders and team leaders of MyUmbrella LGBT+, said after the event: “It is vital that we hold this vigil every year.
“Not just to remember those that we have lost due to transphobia, whether directly or indirectly, but also to show our solidarity and our support to our Trans community on whatever stage of their journey.”
Mikey Russell, Reading Pride trustee, who produced the contributor’s films, said: “I would like to thank everybody who joined us both in-person and online and our speakers.”
He also thanked Reading Biscuit Factory “for being a great host, and Rising Sun Arts Centre for letting us use their space to record most of the speeches.”
He also gave his thanks to Reading Minster for allowing the use of their venue to record the choir’s performance.
“Thanks to Nicely Done Productions and Reading Rock Academy for their assistance in recording the Rock Choir, who were absolutely amazing.”
“Newbury Pride for their last-minute support with speakers and providing the beautiful wreath.
“It’s another example of what can be accomplished when the community comes together.
“Reading stands, Together as One Community. Love will always Unite us here. We are all More Than LGBT.”
Tom Price, chief engagement officer at Reading Pride, added: “This event is vital not just to remember those in the trans community taken too soon, but to highlight the ongoing fight against discrimination and abuse faced by our trans family.
“There is no LGB without the T+.”
