In remembrance of those who were killed due to hatred and violence toward transgenders, students and faculty gathered Thursday evening with candles and flowers for a candlelight vigil on the Commencement Field.
Transgender is a term encompassing those who do not identify with “male” or “female.” They include cross-dressers, transsexuals and genderqueers (a person who identifies their gender to be somewhere in-between or outside the binary gender structure).
The memorial was the last of three events held on campus in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance, an internationally recognized memorial that aims to raise awareness about transgender issues and gender identity.
These events are the first of this type to be held on campus.
“Within the LGB [lesbian, gay, bisexual] community, transgender people are not included enough,” said Kirstyn Chun, co-adviser of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (LGBTRC). “It’s important for public education services to provide help for all students. In the general population, transgender issues aren’t talked about. We see this event as serving both LGBT and the general population.”
The week’s events included the Introduction to Gender Identity and Gender Expression workshop, the Trans/Genderqueer Speaker’s Panel and a candlelight vigil.
The gender identity introduction workshop was led by senior Sumi Braun. Braun is an advocate for transgender rights and more inclusion for transgender people on campus. The workshop included discussions about the daily obstacles transgender/genderqueer individuals face, such as using restrooms without fear, finding medical coverage for hormones or needed surgeries, discrimination and hate crimes.
The group discussed possible tactics to battle discrimination and hate crimes. T.J. Huberg, a public speaking professor, attended the event.
“We need to look at more prevention tactics. Prevention and education is key,” Huberg said. “People need to become more aware and have diversity training.”
The Trans/Genderqueer speakers panel, made up of four speakers who identified themselves as transgender and genderqueer, shared their personal stories and experiences.
Panel speaker Mike/Michelle, a male-bodied, androgynous person who spends half the time being Mike and other half being Michelle, said, “If people can’t place you right away [your gender] it causes anxiety, [and] sometimes people will eliminate that anxiety with violence.”
Braun told the group “California State University, Long Beach’s anti-discrimination policy does not include gender identity. If a trans-person were attacked, they wouldn’t be able to fight it as a hate crime.”
Braun did say, however, that progress is being made.
“Within the next five years, they’re going to do major reconstruction on campus. We are hoping to bring more gender-neutral restrooms, and we are hoping to add a box on any form or questionnaire for trans or other on the sex portion of applications.”
According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, “twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have hate crime laws that protect people based on sexual orientation. Of these, only seven and D.C. include protections based on gender identity or expression.” The seven states with protection include California, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Washington.
Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999 in San Francisco to memorialize Rita Hester, who was stabbed multiple times on her front porch. Her murder, like many others, remains unsolved.
“Transgender Day of Remembrance is to memorialize those who have fallen victim to transphobia and hatred,” said Benny LeMaster, co-coordinator for the week’s events.
Students expressed their feelings about the candlelight vigil.
“I came to try to understand that everyone has hard times and to not always be focused on me. People should have more compassion and care about others,” said Rachel Ann Paul, a human development major. “I feel sad that those people were never able to grow. They died just trying to be themselves.”
“Within an oppressed group such as LGB, their lies an even more oppressed group [trans-gendered people]. We as a fraternity came here to show our support,” said Jeff Spafford, a public relations major and member of Delta Lambda Phi, a national social fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men. “Oppression is oppression and discrimination is discrimination.”
According to the Transgender Day of Remembrance press release, “Transgender Day of Remembrance is an important time for us to not only cry for those who have fallen victim to anti-trans hatred and violence, but also for us to be angry for living in a society that ignores these deaths.”
