By Cameron Kerkau, Staff Reporter.
“I think it’s really important for people to understand that there’s this population in the United States, indeed the entire world, that has been fairly invisible, and the reason we’ve been invisible is because of the fear of violence,” says Charin Davenport, adjunct instructor of English.
Unison, a student organization at Delta that hopes to amplify the voices of the LGBTQIA community and their allies, will honor the victims of transphobia with a memorial service as a part of Transgender Day of Remembrance. The event takes place this Wednesday, Nov. 18, from noon to 5 p.m. in the Lecture Theater (G160) on the main campus.
The names of all 26 women that have been murdered since last November’s day of remembrance will be read every hour In the Lecture Theater. With a donation, students will have the opportunity to read a name themselves. All donations will go toward LGBTQIA student program services. Unison will also provide students with resources such as helplines and support groups.
Davenport hopes that this event will reveal the plight of transgender people in the United States. She notes that the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 has been repeatedly amended but has never included any protections for gender identity, gender expression
or sexual orientation. According to Davenport, in Michigan, transgender people are often denied the basic services that people usually receive in their communities, businesses, and public spaces.
“We shouldn’t have to live in fear because of our identity and our expression. No one should,” says Davenport.
People who have never encountered the community are especially encouraged to visit the exhibit.
“One thing Delta does really well, is that they expose people to ideas and thoughts that they might not have otherwise encountered,” says Davenport.
There will also be memorial services at SVSU at 8 p.m. on Nov. 18 and at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19.
“Awareness, acceptance and respect. That’s the path to a full community,” says Davenport.
