Highland Pride’s Trans Day of Remembrance organiser on importance of vigil in Inverness: ‘When you read out 400 names, it can feel like everyone hates us’
Highland Pride committee member Roz White expects trans people to continue to be targeted – but has implored members of the LGBTQ+ community to remember they are not alone.
She had organised and was speaking at a vigil at Eden Court to mark Trans Day of Remembrance earlier this week, where over 400 names of trans people who died as a result of violence over the previous 12 months were read out.
That number has increased from last year, and some of the takeaways from the 2023/24 list are the apparent groups of people who were targeted and killed together, and the number of suicides from the USA in particular.
Hearing the names of so many people who have died can easily be overwhelming, or intimidating, but Ms White is keen to re-iterate to those affected that they are not alone.
“There are a number of things that stick out to me this year,” she said.
“With the recent election results in the US I think we are already seeing, and will continue to see, targeting happening there.
“Trump never tacitly says it, but his followers get the idea that they can do this now because he is in the White House. It’s not necessarily down to him, but somewhere down the line he is encouraging that sort of atmosphere.
“I’m quite likely to study the list further to try and gain more insights, but there were lots of stabbings and lots of shootings, and one or two other quite hideous things that suggest whoever did it was being far more inventive than anybody really deserves just for being themselves.
“I think we just have to keep educating and being visible. I am a great advocate of not hiding in anyone’s house, because I don’t think that’s healthy – and it’s not living, it’s just surviving.
“The key is just to get through this stage where it seems like everybody hates us. That’s not actually true, but when you read out 400-plus names it can sometimes feel that way.
“It’s a message I’m keen to promote that not everybody hates us, it just feels that way currently.
“We have lots of firm support. There are plenty of countries in the world that were not on that list, and I think that’s encouraging and very important to remember. We are not all alone and in the dark.”
Also at the vigil there was a speech made by Councillor Sarah Fanet to those in attendance, with most people attending in group – their own support network.
Trans Day of Remembrance is a poignant date in the calendar for many, but Ms White believes it is also a reminder of the importance of being visible.
“As Sarah said in her remarks, it’s important to be seen and heard to remind all the people here that they are not on their own,” she added.
“I remember when we did the vigil for Brianna Ghey, and a lot of people took the microphone and said their version of ‘I’m so frightened’. They need the support and the knowledge that they are not alone.
“It’s really encouraging also that so many people came in groups, so they have friends and people who want to stand around them.
“Highland Pride’s website and email is there to contact if they need further help or support, or encouragement.
“Although it’s Trans Day of Remembrance, we remember the non-binary people and the gay people who died for being who they are, and loving who they loved too.
“It’s important to re-iterate that we are there, and this is a very good day for doing that. It’s a peak in the year-long message.”
