The University of British Columbia (UBC) will see a little more colour this weekend in honour of Trans Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20).
UBC's LGBTQ+ engineering club, "Gears and Queers" will be painting the Engineering Cairn at UBC on Nov. 19. "Join us from 2-4 p.m. All are welcome!" writes the club's Instagram post about the event.
The day will commemorate "those lost to violence, those who live through violence and transphobia, and recognize the need to disrupt the violence and oppression that trans people continue to face," writes UBC's events page for Trans Day of Remembrance.
The engineering club had painted one of UBC's Cairns last year as well.
This year marks the 23rd Transgender Day of Remembrance after the first one took place in 1999, following the death of Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman, who was murdered in the previous year.
"Trans people at UBC and in our broader communities continue to face stigma, discrimination, and violence and each year more community members die as a result of acts of transphobia," the website continues. "This is a significant and important day to remember trans lives lost, to reflect on how each one of us can better support trans individuals in our communities, and to reaffirm our commitment and investment in the work that still remains to be done."
Vigil for Trans Day of Remembrance
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church will be hosting a vigil the day of Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20.
The church will have a special contemplative service from 7-8 p.m. with music from the VanDeca Choir.
"The vigil commemorates all transgender people lost to violence and lifts up those who are continuing to work for trans rights," says the event page.
