In Canada, on November 20th, we mark Trans Day of Remembrance. We know that trans people at UBC and in our broader communities continue to face stigma, discrimination, and violence. Each year, the list of those murdered in acts of transphobia continues to grow.
While a single day is not enough to counteract the ongoing erasure of trans people’s stories and lives, we take this day to intentionally mourn and honour those who were killed due to anti-trans hatred or prejudice, including those who died by suicide.
In 2021, this day is made more poignant as I reflect on the work of the Trans, Two-Spirit, and Gender Diversity (T2SGD) Task Force and consider with anticipation the release of its upcoming report to the university community. Included in the report are the findings from the gender diversity audit conducted in spring 2021 which summarize and amplify the experiences of UBC’s trans, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse community members.
Reviewing the audit, I was particularly dismayed and struck by the need to address some of the following:
- 85 per cent of T2SGD respondents to the audit survey reported experiencing discrimination at UBC;
- T2SGD respondents with disabilities are twice as likely to provide informal and uncompensated education – often out of necessity and pressure – compared to those who are without disabilities;
- jokes, inappropriate comments, and repeated misgendering were all noted as sites of harm for T2SGD students, faculty, and staff;
- 58 per cent of T2SGD respondents feel they belong at UBC, compared to 79 per cent of non-T2SGD respondents;
- 76 per cent of T2SGD respondents think UBC needs to do more to ensure their safety and inclusion;
- 78 per cent of T2SGD people say cultural change at UBC would have a very positive impact on their lives;
- 85 per cent of cisgender respondents are not aware of existing resources on how to support T2SGD people at UBC.
We anticipate the release of the full report in early 2022, accompanied by recommendations that will guide UBC toward realizing its commitment to be an equitable and respectful environment for trans community members. As we await the report and recommendations that will guide efforts towards systemic change across the university, I invite trans community members and allies to join me at this year’s events that recognize Trans Day of Remembrance.
If you are approaching this day with little awareness of trans experiences, culture, and history, I encourage you to dedicate time to learning.
22 per cent of T2SGD people reluctantly and informally educate and advise on gender diversity regularly to members of the UBC community, yet the onus is on each of us, as allies, to learn about trans experiences and ways to support trans inclusion at UBC and beyond.
As we reflect on trans lives and experiences, I want to acknowledge the additional and disproportionate burdens that members of the trans community (along with other equity-deserving groups) continue to experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the existing stigmatization, discrimination, violence, food insecurity, and barriers in access to care, trans community members have had to navigate reduced access to support services and gender-affirming care, social isolation, the exacerbated ongoing mental health disparities, and negative economic impacts – challenges that have further disproportionally affected trans people of colour.
As a recent example of some of the day-to-day challenges, the process to confirm the proof of vaccination in BC has introduced additional privacy concerns and potential for disclosure of one’s legal name. Legal name disclosure raises fears of being outed, confronted, or referred to by a name and/or pronouns that do not reflect someone’s identity. While the government is working to resolve this, you can review our recent advisory to the UBC community on this topic. It provides guidance for reducing potential harm that may occur as a result of legal name disclosure during proof of vaccination checks.
With deep love and care for the T2SGD people who have died and for those who are still with us,
Sara-Jane Finlay