By Spencer Sterritt

P.A. transgender remembrance day sees largest turnout by city representatives

Nov 21, 2016 | 6:18 AM

An international gender diverse event held in Prince Albert saw one of its biggest turnouts, but organizers say there is still work to be done.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance, held Sunday, was held to remember those who’ve died as a result of anti-transgender violence. Emcee Dexton Bourne said it was great to see dignitaries such as Prince Albert Police Services Chief Troy Cooper and P.A. Northcote MLA Nicole Rancourt at the event, since there hadn’t been significant recognition of the day previously.

“I think we’ve made really great strides here,” Bourne said adding many in P.A. weren’t open about their sexuality out of fear, but hoped being recognized by city leaders would add a feeling of safety.

The ceremony was marked by two letter writing exercises.

First, everyone wrote notes about their personal experiences with transgender violence, whether it was directed at them or they were a witness. The notes were then burned, which Bourne said would “clear the negative energy and promote healing.”

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Their second notes were the opposite of the first, focused on positive messages of love and acceptance to those in the gender diverse community. The messages will be sent off to other events and posted online.

“For people who have personally experienced hatred in that way it can be really freeing for them,” Bourne said. “It does also add a very spiritual aspect to some, so it’s deeply personal.”

In Prince Albert specifically, Bourne hadn’t dealt with any transphobia but has heard troubling stories, such as when the Northern Lights Casino allegedly discriminated against a transgender woman and others being insulted and verbally attacked.

“People just don’t understand it and are always going to fear what’s different. I think a lot of people don’t realize they know a lot of people who are gender diverse and it would change their perspective once they realize we’re not one in a million, we’re one in ten,” Bourne said.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 as a vigil to honour the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998.

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit