Here’s a perspective from a member of Jamaica’s transgender community. The question of a “single story” is an important one to consider as we seek to examine (and re-examine) our attitudes. I must add a “big up” here to the incredibly supportive Father Sean Major Campbell, who continuously reaches out to the most marginalized of Jamaicans. Thank you!!
Last week, November 16 – 20, was Transgender Awareness week; a week aimed at augmenting the visibility of the transgender and gender non-conforming community and highlighting the issues that we face. On November 20, Transgender Awareness week culminated in Transgender Day of Remembrance; a day which seeks to remember all trans folk who we have lost to acts of transphobic violence.
According to the Human Rights Campaign joint report with the Trans People of Color Coalition, at least 21 transgender persons in the United States of America have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence thus far; the vast majority of them being trans women of colour. Within our Jamaican context, I have not been privy to any other horrific act of homicide since 16-year-old Dwayne Johnson was stabbed, shot and run over with a car in July of 2013 after attending a party whilst presenting herself as her true gender. But not because there have been…
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