The Yaroslavl LGBT activists, on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is celebrated on November 20, installed a cross and crucified a symbolic victim on it. That way they honored the memory of murdered transgender people. Correspondent «7x7» visited the event.
On the morning of November 20, several Yaroslavl LGBT activists who wished to remain anonymous, installed a cross on the embankment at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl. One of the actionists was tied to it. On his head there was a wreath of barbed wire. Later, they hung a poster with a reminder of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Activists called their action “Crucifixion of Transphobia”.
What did the participants say
One of the participants of the action told «7x7» about the meaning that participants put into it:
"The cross is a symbol of stigmatization. The man on it is a transgender crucified by society. For us, dead transgender people become holy."
According to activists, they wanted to draw public attention to the fact that transgender people suffer from violence more often than other minorities.
What is this date?
Since 1999, human rights organizations on November 20 mark the memory day of transgender people killed because of xenophobia. A year earlier, a transgender rock singer Rita Hester was killed in the United States. In San Francisco, on the anniversary of her death, a mourning procession with candles was held. In Russia, this date was first noted in 2008. In Russia, at least six hate transgender and transgender murders are known.
In 2017, in Yaroslavl, the memorial action on the Transgender Day of Remembrance was disrupted by unknown persons. Young people came to the rally with stun guns, threw eggs and crushed candles.
Daniil Kuznetsov, photo by Alexander Stepanov, «7x7»