Premier John Horgan and Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, have issued the following statement to mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance:
“On Nov. 20, we come together to mourn loved ones who have lost their lives because of acts of transphobic violence, harassment and marginalization.
“Trans people, especially trans women of colour, face incredible discrimination in housing, employment and everyday life. Simple things that most of us take for granted, like being able to use the washroom in peace and safety, are too often denied to trans people in our province.
“We need to do better. As individuals, it starts with acknowledging our privilege, confronting our biases and taking personal responsibility for building a B.C. where trans people are safe, welcome and given the opportunity to succeed.
“As a government, we’re taking steps to make our province safe and welcoming for trans people by affirming, acknowledging and teaching about all gender identities in our schools, providing a non-binary gender option on government identification, improving access to gender-affirming surgeries, and re-establishing a human rights commission to fight inequality and discrimination in all its forms.
“Today, we invite British Columbians to remember those who have been killed by transphobia as we raise the transgender flag at the B.C. legislature for the first time in history.
“This moment is long overdue. In a better world, it would be a moment of celebration. But in this world, where so many trans people are hurt and killed for who they are, it is a call to fight for justice for all.
“We will not let the bright lives of our trans friends, family members and neighbours be erased from memory. We see you. We honour you. We remember you.”