November 20th is celebrated all over the world TDoR, the Transgender Day of Remembrance, to commemorate the victims of anti-transgender hatred, prejudice, and discrimination (transphobia). The event was launched in 1998 by transgender activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith to remember Rita Hester, whose murder in Massachusetts sparked the web project "Remembering Our Dead," and in 1999, a candlelight vigil in San Francisco. Since then, the event has grown to include commemorations in hundreds of cities around the world.
Every year, various cities organize initiatives to commemorate this date, mainly through torchlight processions, sit-ins, and candlelight celebrations.
The Transgender Europe's Trans murder monitoring project monitored 1,374 homicides worldwide in the last four years (January 2008-November 2013). In this same period, twenty-six confirmed victims were recorded in Italy (the number according to the associations should be considered underestimated since we understand the victims are many more), a significantly higher number than in other European countries, making Italy the second country in Europe for number of victims after Turkey. Unfortunately, these data only concern homicide cases, overlooking all the victims of daily violence caused by prejudice, discrimination, deprivation of fundamental rights (health, education, work), violence that in many cases leads to tragic outcomes that these statistics do not take into account. We would like this to be an opportunity to remember all the victims, those robbed of their lives by a murderous hand, but also the victims of daily discrimination that excludes them from school, work, and relationships, that denies them well-being and dignity, and that slowly erodes the enthusiasm and hard work with which transgender people, despite countless difficulties, have reclaimed themselves. We would like to see a more incisive and conscious reminder that crimes against transgender people and crimes against women are both gender-based crimes, the result of gender-based, sexist, and chauvinistic violence. Every annual commemoration risks becoming a tired ritual repetition, almost an obligatory act, often interpreted as a mere "conscience-clearing" exercise, if it fails to raise awareness that these victims must be remembered every day. With the aim of building policies and practices of inclusion and integration that safeguard transgender people's right to self-determination and their dignity as citizens.
Ottavia Voza – Arcigay Head of Transgender Rights
Here are the main initiatives implemented by Arcigay clubs on the occasion of TDOR:
TURIN, Turin LGBT Pride Coordination
On the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Transphobia:
Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 8:30 p.m.
Screening of the film "Transamerica" by Duncan Tucker, USA 2005, followed by a discussion (guests include Christian Ballarin and Sandeh Veet of Maurice GLBTQ and SPO.T, and psychologist Denise Magliano). Organized by Agedo Cuneo and Scuola di Pace, in collaboration with the Municipality of Boves.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 12:00 PM
Candles will be lit to remember the transgender people killed in 2013, and testimonies will be read – Piazza dell'Olmo, Boves.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 8:30 p.m.
Screening of the film “Boys Don't Cry” by Kimberly Peirce, USA 1999, curated by Arcigay Torino at the Sauna 011 Cultural and Recreational Association, via Messina 5/d, Turin.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013, 6:00 PM
Candle Light – Piazza Castello corner of Via Accademia delle Scienze, Turin.
Friday, November 29, 2013, 8:30 p.m.
At the Cesare Pavese Civic Library (Via Candiolo 79, Turin), the LGBT Service of the City of Turin, the Turin Civic Libraries. Maurice GLBTQ, the Mirafiori Women's Association, and the Ma.Dì Cultural Association present an evening featuring readings by the Mirafiori Women's Association, a screening of the film "Tomboy" by Céline Sciamma (France, 2011), a presentation by the Ma.Dì Association on the development of gender identity during childhood and adolescence, and a discussion and testimony from transgender people.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 12:00 PM
School screening of the film “Transamerica” by Duncan Tucker, USA 2005 in collaboration with the 16th edition of “Sottodiciotto FilmFestival”, Cinema Massimo, 9.30 am
UDINE | Monday, November 18, 9:30 p.m.
At the MISSKAPPA Arci Club
With Arcigay Friuli, Arcilesbica Udine, and the IRIS University Association
Meeting with:
Attorney Francesco Bilotta – Lenford Network
Laura Scati, Psychologist and Psychotherapist, CeDIG Consultant
Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Gender Disorders – Trieste
Alice (MtoF) and Marco (FtoM) share their experiences
PADUA | Tuesday, November 19
At 9:00 pm, at the Arcigay TRALALTRO club, during the TdoR, a meeting with Professor Marta Panzeri, Chair of Psychology of Sexuality at the University of Padua. The discussion will focus on transphobia and the pathologization of transsexual identity, as well as the important changes that are positively impacting the lives of transsexual and transgender people in Italy and abroad.
PAVIA | Tuesday, November 19
Caffè Teatro – Corso Strada Nuova n°75 – 9.30 pm
Arcigay Pavia “Coming-aut” - University Association “Universigay”
A moment of sharing and reflection, candle light in front of the venue
An MtoF person from our community shares his experience.
PESCARA | November 20
3:00 PM, Tornimparte Cemetery (AQ). Commemoration at the tomb of Emanuela di Cesare, murdered in Pescara in 2007.
6:00 p.m., gathering in Piazza Sacro Cuore in Pescara and torchlight procession along Corso Umberto.
PERUGIA | November 20
Omphalos Arcigay Arcilesbica.
Starting at 6:00 PM, in Piazza della Repubblica (in front of the Feltrinelli bookshop). Candlelight, distribution of materials against transphobia, and remembrance of the victims of anti-transgender violence.
NAPLES | November 20
ATN Transsexual Association of Naples, under the patronage of the Municipality of Naples and the Campania Rainbow Coordination (Arcigay Naples, Arcigay Salerno, Arcigay Naples, Rainbow Families, Maschile Plurale)
Via Toledo, near “Rinascente,” at 6:00 p.m. Procession and candlelight.
ANDRIA | November 20
In collaboration with the Carsica Cultural Association, Arcigay BAT “Le Mine Vaganti” is screening the film Tomboy (2011), written and directed by Céline Sciamma. At 9:30 p.m., at the Carsica headquarters in Andria, Via Corradino di Svevia, 10.
Following this, there will be a moment of commemoration, debate and discussion.
PALERMO | November 20
Procession and candlelight. Gathering from 5:00 PM in Piazza Sant'Oliva, arriving in front of the Prefecture with a moment of silence in memory of all the victims of homophobic and transphobic hatred.
CATANIA | November 20
A candlelight vigil will be held in the San Berillo neighborhood, starting at 7:30 PM. Informational and protest signs will be posted on the walls of the neighborhood's streets.
BOLOGNA | November 20
The Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with Arcigay Il Cassero, Atlantide Restiste, Laboratorio Smaschieramenti, XM24, and Fuoricampo, is organizing a candlelight event in memory of the victims of transphobia at the foot of the Two Towers, in Piazza Ravegnana, from 6 to 8 pm.
MANTUA | November 23
Arcigay Mantova La Salamandra will be present from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm with a stand in Piazza Marconi; at 6:30 pm, a CANDLE LIGHT will be held in Piazza Marconi to remember the transgender people killed in 2013, accompanied by the reading of testimonies.
