Transgender deaths illuminatedJOYCE LIN/daily bruin senior staff
Fifth-year music history student Amy Huyunh participates in a vigil for those who died in the past year as victims of violence against transgendered people.
By
Anthony PesceDAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTORapesce@media.ucla.eduTwenty-eight transgendered men and women are known to have died in the past year as a result of hate crimes. Monday night, students gathered in De Neve Plaza as part of the international Transgender Day of Remembrance in an effort to commemorate their deaths. This year marks the seventh annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, but Monday's candlelight vigil and march were the first time events commemorating the day were held at UCLA. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died because of transgender-based hate or prejudice, according to the Transgender Day of Remembrance's official Web site. Four speakers – a community member, a UCLA alumna, a graduate student and last year's Queer Alliance president – spoke about their experiences dealing with transgender issues that included hate, violence, discrimination and identity issues. One speaker, while telling the story of how she realized her gender identity, said, "If you're like me, you ran like hell for 45 years before you faced who you are." Though this event was primarily to remember those who have been victims of transgender hate crimes, Christina Chala, a UCLA women's studies alumna and volunteer at the event, said it was also to "move others to action" on transgender issues. Earlier in the day, students lined Bruin Walk with posters commemorating those who had died.
JOYCE LIN/daily bruin senior staff
Students participate in a march from De Neve Plaza to the LGBT center on campus as part of the international Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Monday evening, 28 people stood in front of an audience as candles were lit and each told the story of one of the transgendered people killed this year. The stories included accounts of stabbings, shootings and rapes, all because of the victim's gender identity. As the vigil progressed, many onlookers stopped to listen to the speakers and examine the depictions of the victims in posters that were hung around the plaza. Several passers-by also stopped to join the audience. "All of the numbers, statistics and science take away the humanity of what is happening, but when you see, talk to, and hug someone, it really humanizes them," said Jeremiah Garcia, a second-year art student who attended the event. But in addition to the positive responses from the attendees, there were several people who laughed and sneered as they walked by the event. Though there have been no reported crimes recently committed against transgendered people on campus, Georgina Wakefield, a fifth-year American literature and culture student and QueerXGirl president, said minor acts of vandalism against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community do happen at UCLA and need to be addressed. There have also been a few incidences of transgendered people moving out of campus residence halls because of the gender-segregated environment, Wakefield said. In response to perceived inaction about transgender issues, the audience filled out action cards after the vigil, pledging their commitment to transgender issues. The cards were affixed to a banner carried by students during their march to the UCLA LGBT Resource Center. More onlookers were attracted as the marchers walked down Bruin Walk past the Wooden Center while chanting, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, trans-phobia's got to go." Monday's event was part of an ongoing effort by student groups to promote awareness of LGBT issues on campus. "We feel like the UCLA community is insulated. We wanted to bring something here that would connect the campus to outside issues," Wakefield said.
