This International Transgender Day of Remembrance, over 60 transgender people who have been murdered or who died under suspicious circumstances are being memorialized. Among these victims is 26-year-old January Marie Lapuz from Westminster, British Columbia.
Lapuz was found in her home, fatally stabbed, on September 29.
“The obstacles she overcame as an immigrant, as a transgender person, as a person in poverty, as a person working in a high-risk occupation, she really overcame a lot,” said Alex Shanga of Sher Vancouver, in an interview with the New West Record.
“I learned that society is not providing enough supports for people like January Marie,” added Shanga.
Queen’s Human Rights Office notes that while there is insufficient research on the violence perpetrated against transgender people, preliminary research points to a very high incidence.
Carrie Davis, Director of Operations for GenderPac, reported in a speech in March of 1999 that almost 60% of [transgender] people are victims of violence. GenderPac is also compiling statistics on the number of [transgender] people who are murdered because they are [transgender]. According to their figures, currently in the United States, one [transgender] person is murdered each month. It is believed that this number seriously underestimates the real level of violence because these crimes are often attributed to gay-bashing or other causes.
Additionally, Queens remarks that a transgender person who is a victim of violence may be reticent to identify themselves as transgender when reporting the crime to police.
Trans Day of Remembrance events and vigils will be held across Canada and around the world. To find an event near you, please consult the International Transgender Day of Remembrance website.
For more information on how you can be an ally to trans people in the workplace, please consult the Canadian Labour Congress’ publication entitled Workers in Transition: A Practical Guide for Union Representatives.