Gold Coast Trans Day of Remembrance

Amidst a backdrop of increased violence against trans and gender diverse individuals in Australia and around the world, being able to celebrate, and grieve trans folk has become indisputably vital.

This is not just a Meanjin/Brisbane or big city issue. As the rainbow and trans community on the Gold Coast continues to grow, hosting a local, accessible and visible event is essential.

For these reasons, local LGBTQIA+ activist group Trans Liberation Gold Coast and LGBTQIA+ pride and advocacy group Gold Coast Rainbow Communities have collaborated for the first time to host a special event for the Gold Coast queer community.

An intimate gathering including a reading of names, cupcakes and a candle-lit ceremony to mourn and mark Trans Day of Remembrance will be held from 4:30 pm on Monday 20 November in Macintosh Island Park, and will be open to the public.

“With the rainbow and trans community on the Gold Coast growing and thriving, we shouldn’t have to travel all the way up to Brisbane to mourn our own,” said Danni Zuvela (she/her), Co-Director, Gold Coast Rainbow Communities.

“Trans folk need love, awareness, and allyship now more than ever. What is a community supposed to do when every year, we’re being slaughtered like animals, and every year, nobody says a thing? It’s downright terrifying existing as a trans person, not knowing when you may lose a friend or loved one,”
said Ember Leonard (xe/they), Organiser, Trans Liberation Gold Coast

In 2023 there has been an increase in transphobia and transphobic violence across the world, including but not limited to; Scotland, England + Wales, Ireland, Pakistan, the US, with 373 active and 85 passed anti-trans bills (as of 11 November), and here in Australia, with a recent report detailing almost 50 per cent of trans and gender diverse participants experiencing online and in-person anti-trans hate.

“We lost a member of our community recently and it has devastated us”, said Danni, “making this year’s Trans Day of Remembrance one we will never forget. We realised the importance of this annual event – it’s much more than ‘just another day’ on the calendar. It’s the day we remember, mourn, and grow more resilience together. This will become a recurring event and on the Gold Coast Rainbow Communities calendar”.

Transphobic violence is on the rise globally and with the rise of toxic right-wing narratives targeting people of gender diversity, supporting this community has never been more vital, or more urgent. All are welcome at this family-friendly, accessible event.

DETAILS:
Gold Coast Trans Day of Remembrance
4:30 pm
Monday 20 November
Macintosh Island Park, Gold Coast
Wheelchair accessible
Children and dogs welcome