Trans day recognised

The Senate has acknowledged transgender victims of violent crime and called on the Government to recognise the rights of transgender people thanks to a motion by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (pictured) and Labor Senator Louise Pratt.

Transgender Day of Remembrance was on November 20, which was not a sitting day for the Senate, so the two senators moved a motion on November 24 “that the Senate notes that: 20 November was Transgender Day of Remembrance; the event began in 1999 in San Francisco in the United States of America to honour, Ms Rita Hester, who was murdered on 28 November 1998.

“The Senate notes that … the annual event provides an opportunity to remember all those transgender people who have been killed in acts of anti-transgender violence.

“The Senate … recognises that transgender people continue to be victims of violent crimes in both Australia and overseas; and calls on the Government to advocate for the rights of transgender people at both a national and international level.”

The motion was agreed to by those senators present.