It's the 10th annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance, and too few news outlets are reporting on it. The day raises awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, and commemorates those who have been killed in violence fueled by prejudice.
Judging from Google News, the national media has very little to say about it.
I would never have heard of it, if not for my friend Ami. But now I have, and now you have too.
So take a moment of silence, and think about some people gone too soon, for the worst of reasons.
And then tell someone else. Because silence doesn't do anyone any good.
Rob
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A Moment of Silence
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4 comments:
You're absolutely right. Thanks for sharing this, Rob.
I was unaware of it. Prejudice in any form is just so wrong. Thanks for letting me know.
Hilzoy from Washington Monthly said it much better than I did:
"It's not that hard to be kind, to let people live their lives as they choose, and to try to help them when you can. Why everyone doesn't try to do this is a mystery to me. But even if people can't manage to be kind and decent, it's really, really easy not to be so cruel and intolerant that you kill or beat people just because you don't like the way they choose to live. Honestly: it's a cinch. Takes no effort at all.
If only people would manage just that much, at least thirty people would not have died last year, and many more would not have to look over their shoulder when they walked down the street, wondering."
Or as Kurt Vonnegut said:
"There's only one rule that I know of, babies--God damn it, you've got to be kind."
In every way, to every one.
My school actually announces it every year. Some years there have been commemorative posters remembering those that have been victims of violence. Of course sheltered teens think it's weird, but it does get them thinking.
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