The 519 Church Street Community Centre

Archive for November, 2009

Silence Is Violence | The Trans Day of Remembrance

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Silence is Violence - When I the oppressed become the oppressor

As performed by Yasmeen Persad at the 2007 Trans Day of Remembrance
Author Unknown

When I the oppressed watch silently the struggle of Trans sisters
being killed globally, in India, Africa, South America
and the Caribbean, and I do nothing…
then my silence is violence.

When trans women are in male prisons and trading
unprotected sex for protection, and I do nothing…
then my silence is violence

When Trans people who have access to the media refuse to touch
on pressing social issues in our community, and I do nothing…
then my silence is violence.

When the Trans community is being faced with extreme discrimination and fingers
are pointing to passing, class, power and privilege, and I do nothing…
then my silence is violence.

When me with my Canadian passport silently watch the struggles of undocumented
trans refugees who are being deported, exploited and avoided, and still do nothing…
then my silence is violence.

When access to social progams and health care for our elders and
our youth are not available or denied, and I do nothing…
then my silence is violence.

When I watch my Trans sisters suffer and be stigmatized by the
Aids epidemic here and abroad, and do nothing…
then my silence is violence.

When I watch our Aboriginal Trans sisters fighting for
survival and sovereignty, and do nothing…
Then my silence is violence.

They say the History repeats itself but I believe we repeat history….

The 2009 Trans Day of Remembrance

Since 2000 the number of trans people killed due to violence and oppression has increased by 500%. In 2000, 19 trans deaths were reported, this year that number has risen to a staggering 95 deaths.

Join us as we memorialize those within trans communities who have been struck down by violence. At the Trans Day of Remembrance we gather together in the hopes that some day, by working together, we can make these changes happen. We gather as a way to gain strength and we gather as an act of resistance.

Friday, November 20, 2009 from 7PM to 9PM
The 519 Church Street Community Centre


For more information, visit :
http://www.the519.org/events/transgenderdayofremembrance

Tags: Activist, Advocacy, Church and Wellesley, Event, LGBT, The 519, The 519 Church Street Community Centre, Trans, trans violence, Transgender, Transphobia
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