VICTORIA B.C. – Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley and B.C. Green Party spokesperson for health and wellbeing, issued the following statement on the Transgender Day of Remembrance:
“In British Columbia and Canada, we have made significant steps forward in protecting the rights of transgender people. Gender identity and expression are finally included in the B.C. Human Rights Code. Four openly transgender candidates from the three major political parties ran in the May election. The first known transgender Canadian mayor was just elected in Quebec. But sadly, these achievements have come all too slowly for those who have experienced discrimination, transphobia, and violence.
“Today on the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, we recall the lives that have been lost because of ignorance, fear, and hate. The B.C. Greens join all those around the world today who remember and honour those lives. Their memory lives on in our actions and commitment to making our communities safe, supportive spaces for transgender people.”
Furstenau recently wrote to Minister of Health Adrian Dix, urging him to support a provincial PreP program. Studies have shown that PrEP can prevent vulnerable persons from contracting HIV. Transgender persons are among the populations with the highest risk of having HIV.
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