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Every two days somewhere in the world a transgender person is murdered with violence. In 2008 alone more then 425 cases were reported. A shocking reality.
These figures do not give any estimates of all the murders that were not reported. Every day transgendered people are threatened and attacked. Sometimes close by, sometimes further away. In all cases it is discrimination of people who are simply different of viewed as different.
Every year on or around november 20, a memorial is held worldwide to remember everyone of who is known to have lost their lives in these hatecrimes. Also in the Netherlands.
Henriette Wiersinga RIP April 18, 2007 The Hague, Netherlands Beaten to death
Called names for who you are.
Beaten for who you are.
*** for who you are.
Murdered because you are, who you are.
The violence commited the past year against transgenders worldwide,
unfortunately still indicates
that acception of the identity
that people wish to have,
still is not common.
- Silent March in The Hague -
In one newspaper a transvestite was murdered.
In the other a ***.
And in the newspaper that doesn't allow,
an anonymous man.
But I know better:
It was a human.
Ordinary people, often "displaced persons".
People that
sought their path through life.
But were often lost,
and laid their hopes on Him
because He had something to tell them.
And because He always showed He
knew them deep inside as they were,
and gave them what they needed more then bread:
Words, as they said, of eternal life.
He started to open the heavens above them
and called them blessed.
Especially you.
People who do not speak greatly about themselves.
It is for you, the world.
For you is the future.
People that are often set aside.
People that have every reason to be sad.
People that in many ways
a piece of life and life's happiness
is being denied, that cannot reach it.
For you God will open the heavens.
Unknown person, from Pakistan.
Burned two weeks ago
We remember you with love.
In Iran men who love other men are hung
because we think we know who they are.
They are according to the Iranian government, their *** preference.
Their preference determines for the Iranian government who they are.
"Their *** preference is a threat to the Iranian community."
Or so says the Iranian government.
The Iranian community is according to her government the orthodox islam.
The orthodoxe islam determines the Iranian community.
There is no digging.
There is no thinking.
There is no investigation.
No one asks, if the label that is used, is correct,
and how those involved see themselves.
We stick a label here, and we stick a label there.
The men are hung.
License plate abused.
In Brazil *** prostitutes have to fear for their lives.
The clients think they know who they are.
"They are freaks."
"Women with a ***."
"I am having sex with a woman with a ***."
"I am a freak too."
The labels have been placed.
The *** has been commited.
In the Netherlands, transgenders aren't allowed to adopt the identity of male or female.
The government thinks they know who they are.
"They are not women, because they do not have a ***."
"They are not men, because they do not have a ***."
Label placed, no possibility to change the genderdesignation in the passport.
In far too many places in the world, the license plate of people is being abused.
It is no longer an aid.
Identity is no longer an aid, that guides us to the being inside the person.
It has become a way to abuse power.
On the basis of a few characterictics we think we know who someone is.
On the basis of a few characterictics we think we can decide about someone's life.
Still many transgenders all over the world
are, based on their identity, denied access
to basic services:
To work, housing,
denied access to education,
to self-determination over their body.
My hope for the future of transgenders everywhere in the world
is a world in which a transgender identity is seen for what it is:
merely an identity.
I hope that states all over the world
finally acknowledge that identity is only meant to be an aid.
Not to deny people their rights, or set limits for them.
I hope for a world in which people don't think they know who someone is
simply based on a few characteristics.
Ihope for a world in which people willingly go through the trouble
to dig to know eachother better.
A world, in which people know that words cannot describe the essence of people.
In which people dare to face the incertainty of the contact with others,
and leave it for what it is:
Simply an incertainty.
I wish for everyone, that they are, by themselves and by others,, seen for who they are:
Not male or female,
not rich or poor,
not fat or skinny,
not big or small,
but simply, as themselves.
... There was nothing to do either.
She was just walking down the street.
He considered her a bloke.
And beat her to death.
" When it remains night for some time, even during the day "
" When the silence screams, from the sorrow that you saw "
" When you stare in the distance and cannot understand "
" How it could happen and in which higher plan "
" When you cannot hold on to an outreached hand "
" And would rather flee away to a far, warm land "
" Then your heart fights, your dearest heart "
" When loved ones say, that it should be over with "
" Because they can no longer see it, your tears and the pain "
" When you seem to be the only one that seems to stand still "
" While the stupid earth does not wander from her path "
" When you make peace with the ghosts in your head "
" Because you no longer believe in the sweetness of life "
" Then your heart waits, your dearest heart "
" When then suddenly, quite unexpected you are touched "
" By something very soft, like a busdriver, that greets you friendly "
" Or the sea that sings; All, all shall be good "
" The greatest love in the smallest gesture "
" And for a moment, there is no danger "
" Then your heart hopes, your dearest heart "
" When you are certain, that you will go on "
" When every new day heals your wounds a bit more "
" When you sing out loud again "
" Enjoys and stand on your own two feet "
" Whem you recognize, something, of who you were "
" And will never be your old self again, but the new one "
" Then your heart cheers, your dearest heart "
Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar, in New York, America
strangled on march 27 this year.
Dayana Nicole Castillo García from Perú. died on january 22nd, 2009.
Mariah Malina Qualls, 23 years old, in San Francisco, America, Murdered on december 9, 2009
Destiny Lauren, 29 years in London, England Murdered on november 5, 2009
Kelly F. Watson in New Mexico, Murdered on june 9, 2009
Papucha became only 25 years was shot to death in Peru on june 1 2009
Camila Hernández Nieto, Colombia died january 28, 2009
Imperia Gamaniel Parson in Honduras Shot to death on august 30, 2010
Last week I was phoned at Transvisie
by a transgender youngster I have known for two years.
He walked down the street, in the rain,
in his backpack some tiny things.
He just returned from spending a night at the hospital.
He could not stay in the crisis-care,
because he attempted suicide.
He does not have a home address.
The nightcare was full.
Not mentioning the fact, it would be very unsafe for him
to sleep there in a ward with unknown men.
Two months ago, I was phoned by a mother.
Her child had been found by the police, alongside the railway track.
He was on his own.
Wandering around aimlessly in girls clothes.
His mother was shocked, she had no clue.
Her son then shyly told her
that he has known for years that he is actually a girl.
But so ashamed of themself, and afraid of the consequences,
that he has been surpressing his feelings and pain
since years in solitude.
Last summer, I had one of my regular conversations with a transgender youngster.
I have known her for two years as well.
This time her mother and her mother's boyfriend came along.
Her mother's boyfriend had a quastion for me:
"Does it occur more that transgender people try to solve their problems on their own?"
"And don't go to the police?"
"Not going to the police?" I asked, and looked at her.
"Ah, never mind."
"What happened?"
"I wasn't feeling too well, that eve."
"And people sense that, they see it."
"And I just had a nice day for a change."
"Then I drop my shield for a moment."
"I should have been stronger, but I couldn't."
"So from the street they pushed me into the canal."
"Here, in Amsterdam."
"Late, in the evening."
"It were probably drunk guys. It all passed by so quickly."
"And no one helped."
"That I noticed mostly." she said.
"I climbed out of that canal, and walked to an acquintance."
"I was so ashamed."
"There I got myself dry and warm."
"I don't want to press charges."
"I will be adressed as male."
"And there will be male on my file."
"I don't have the energy to do this anyway."
"They won't catch the offenders anyway."
Last month at our youngstermeeting at Transvisie
we have been laughing very hard.
25 young transgender people, in the age of 12 to 16 years.
What were we laughing about?
About how funny it must've looked
that wednesday,
when one of the youngsters at school got a sandwich
with slices of sausage thrown at her.
The sausage stuck to her arm.
The talking helped.
The laughter helped.
Because the youngsters were safely amongst eachother for a while.
The screaming and laughing gave their emotions a voice.
and showed their power to, with the deepest humiliation,
also see the abstract absurdism in it.
But rather I had put 100 euro's on the table
if I was able to prevent this horrible event
with this beautiful child
that chooses to show her complete self
from happening.
Today it is international Transgender Day Of Remembrance.
Today, I read that in the newspaper yesterday,
is also World Child Rights Day.
20th of november.
The United Nations have commited
that all children have the universal right
to their own opinion,
to good healthcare,
to protection from abuse and violence
and to a safe and healthy life.
The youngsters are my work.
The youngsters are one of my sources of inspiration.
And saying this, I would also wish to add,
all adult transgenders I know, are also a huge source of inspiration to me!
Children and youngsters are to many of us
a source of inspiration.
And in the Netherlands it goes fairly well with transgender youngsters.
In comparison to other countries in the world, that is.
Schools have anti-bullyingpolicies,
transgender youngsters can be treated during puberty,
and several of our youngsters
dares to show themselves in the media.
But the examples I just gave
happen here:
In the Netherlands.
On the streetcorner.
And I know that many of us face similar events.
Or worse.
But many think it is not something you speak of.
"You don't talk about your pain."
"You will deal with it yourself."
Or: "Its part of it."
Or you are ashamed of it.
Whether you are twelve
or fiftysix.
And the outside world does not want to hear at all that things are not going well with you.
An unknown person from the Dominican Republic *** and murdered on may 15, 2010
And here someone from Brazil, that is quite known:
Carla Regina Bento, 30 years Strangled and died on june 11, 2009
Rest in peace.
Person unknown, murdered on pril 3 april, 2010 in Mexico.
Gisela Roni Galante, 42 years, Murdered on april 1, 2009
Kanan, 42 years, in Malaysia, Murdered on august 25, 2009
Jorge Steven Lopez, 19 years, from Puerto Rico Decapitated on november 14, 2009
Angie Gonzá*** Oquendo, 24 years, from Puerto Rico Strangled on may 24, 2010
Luana, 22 years, from Brazil, shot to death on june 24, 2009
Wanchai Tongwijit, 35 years, in Thailand shot to death on november 21, 2009
Irene, Amsterdam, Netherlands stabbed to death in juli 2005
Hadise from Turkey, stabbed to death on june 29, 2009
Myra Chanel Ical, 51 years, Texas, USA Murdered on january 18, 2010
Roy Antonio Jones, 16 months old, Murdered on august 1, 2010...
His 20 years young father told the police that he struck his child with his fist several times.
He wanted “that his child started behaving like a boy instead of a girl”.
Today we do talk. Thankfully.
We whisper. We sing. We have personal talks. We make poetry.
We look eachother in the eyes.
And without knowing eachother, we realize,
today, that we are gathered here, because we are involved.
Because we are connected.
And that does me much good.
Let us speak up.
And let us support eachother in all of this.
Let us not allows ourselves to be pushed aside.
And not keep our mouths shut, when we are called names, bullied, beaten or laughed at.
Let us each in our own, unique way scream for genderdiversity.
By being yourself.
In many cities people are screaming for culture today.
You, let your voice hear in your direct environment.
Follow your dreams, and talk about what occupies you.
And do not hide, or excuse yourself.
Exist! You are worth it.
We are worth it.
You don't need permission to live because you are transgendered,
or the loved one of a transgender.
And should that not be accepted by someone else,
then I want us to be able to support on eachother.
Because Hiero said it before, every other day in the world a transgender person is murdered.
And likely every day.
That could have been me. Or you.
And I realize that very well.
That is why we started Transgender Day of Remembrance. Six years ago.
My friends and me.
of many transgenders we don't even KNOW they died.
Often in the dark. Often in their own homes.
Almost always without any witnesses.
And with much violence.
Such horror that must be.
Today my thoughts are with them in particular.
175 transgenders are lost to us with certainty, this year.
But what I do know for sure, as comfort,
is that this year many of these beautiful, unique, genderdiverse people are born.
Thank you.