Trans Day of Remembrance in Ottawa

The day in images

By Noreen Fagan Nov 20, 2010, 7:00 PM EST

Amanda Ryan leads the TDOR down Elgin St. Credit: Noreen Fagan

Trans people and their allies marched together in solidarity to Parliament Hill for Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on Nov 20.

The day was commemorated in the city with an event hosted at the Ottawa Police Services, where a banner, designed for TDOR in Ottawa was unfurled. Participants then walked down Elgin St to meet up with another group, which for personal and political reasons chose to stay away from the event at the police station.

Together, the two groups walked toward Parliament, where Bill Siksay spoke in support of Bill C-389.

Nearby, protesters dropped a large banner reading “Remember Stonewall” from the Queensway overpass at Elgin St. Police appeared within minutes. The banner was removed, and two people were arrested on mischief charges.

TDOR is an annual event to commemorate trans people who have been victimized by violence, especially those who lost their lives. It was started to commemorate the life of Rita Hester, an African-American trans woman murdered in 1998. It was celebrated in Toronto, Vancouver and other cities across Canada and the US.