Flag raising on the occasion of the Transgender Day of Remembrance

Every year on November 20, on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a commemoration of the victims and victims of trans*-hostile violence takes place worldwide. Today, the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin set a visible sign to remember the victims of trans* hostility.

The ASH Chancellor Jana Einsporn, Susa Boden, member of the StuPa chair of ASH Berlin and Louisa Himmelbach, intern from the office of the Women's and Equal Opportunities Officer of the district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf were present at the ceremonial raising of the Trans* and Progress flag in front of the main building of ASH Berlin.

Susa Boden, who is also a member of the Queer Advisory Board of Marzahn-Hellersdorf, gave a very personal and moving speech in which she said: "I am a trans person and the reaction from those around me is often: "Cool!". It is important to me to look behind the façade and make it clear that we are talking about people who are on their way to finding their identity. This is a major challenge in a society that does not support the search for identity beyond the gender binary. Today, I would like to remember the victims of trans hostility and all people who face discrimination because of their gender identity."

The Intersectional Practice and Transformation (InPuT) working group was unable to be present at the flag-raising ceremony due to time constraints, but wrote the following statement:

"We raise the trans* flag today in memory of all those trans, inter and non-binary people who have been killed around the world in the last year. November 20th is the International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Trans*phobia. It was established in 1998 by activists following the murders of Rita Hester and Chanelle Picket in the USA, which received little media attention.

Transgender Europe publishes an annual Trans Murder Monitoring. 320 people were confirmed to have been killed worldwide due to anti-trans violence between October 2022 and October 2023.

320 people who had a life, friends, a story.

320 people whose futures were taken away by hate and violence.

94% of those killed were trans* women or transfeminine people. 80% of those killed had experienced racism because they were black, PoC, indigenous or migrant.

Misogyny, racism and trans hostility are not to be considered separately, but are violently intertwined.

45% of the people murdered in Europe were migrants or refugees. They survived the often dangerous journey to Europe only to be killed here It is clear to us that a gender-diverse society must be an open society that rejects a fortress Europe and enables people to live in dignity regardless of their passport. 78% of the people killed in Europe were sex workers. It can be assumed that they worked in this profession because other activities were closed to them due to anti-refugee regulations. Economic dependence increases the risk of becoming a victim of violence.

The murders of trans, inter and non-binary people are preceded by exclusion, discrimination and violence. The right-wing and conservative-fueled debates about the right to self-determination, the recurring rejection of gender-equitable language or negative reactions to queer visibility in schools and public institutions make trans people look to the future with concern. Despite flying rainbow flags during Pride Month, trans people are still socially marginalized, have to fight for adequate access to healthcare or are attacked on the street.

November 25 is the International Day of Action to End Violence against Women* and Girls*. It is not without reason that we name today and November 25th together, because the cause of both days is the same: We are talking about patriarchal violence!

Trans women are killed because they are women. The problem is called patriarchy, and whether it's violence against women, trans people or sex workers - we need loud voices of solidarity so that we don't have to mourn any more deaths.

Let us and let us together remember all those worldwide who had to pay with their lives for trans-hostile patriarchal violence.

Ni una menos. Ni uno menos. No more."