Trans day of remembrance 2020 comes amidst the covid19 pandemic which has exercabated structural barriers that negatively impact the lives of many transgender and non-binary persons. Socioeconomic challenges such as lack of access to secure housing, daily sustenance and medical care have been on the rise amongst the community.

Moreover, anxieties about the pandemic have greatly added to the reduced capacity of Trans and nonbinary persons to cope with already existing mental health conditions which have caused and uprising of mental health needs as well as a rise to the number of violations towards them. This is related to their reduced ability to sustain themselves thus causing a dependency structure for their socioeconomic wellbeing that has often rejected them and their core needs making them susceptible to violence of different sorts.

It is with this day that it is most paramount to realize the importance allyship, acceptance ,nondiscrimination and respect hold in upholding the dignity and facilitating easier access to the basic human rights, the trans and non-binary community is entitled to.

With this so should trans and non-binary individuals not forget the many radical forms their existence is brave and courageous.

“Transgender and non binary people are not requesting “special rights” – they are entitled to the same human rights as everyone else “

#TransAwarenessWeek #StopHateCrime #allyship #TransDayOfRemembrance

~ Jinsiangu kenya