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Trans people are facing increasing violence says TUC

The TUC is calling for an end to violence and discrimination against transgender people on Transgender Day of Remembrance yesterday(Sunday).

Around the world 20 November each year is recognised as Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Day commemorates trans people who have been the victims of violent crimes and aims to bring their stories to public attention.

This year sees the 13th international global day of tribute, and new names are still being added to the list of trans people who have been murdered simply because they were different. In Britain last year, there were 357 trans victims of hate crime reported - a rise of 14 per cent on 2009.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The profile of trans people is improving with sympathetic coverage on mainstream television, and the government appears to be committed to challenging the prejudice and discrimination they face.

'But the level of violence faced by trans people - and the reported crimes could be only the tip of the iceberg - represents an appalling percentage of a very small community.

'Prejudice against trans people remains deep, as it does for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, and public spending cuts could severely impact on the ability of authorities to identify and tackle such crimes.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Hate crime figures are available from ACPO at
www.report-it.org.uk/files/acpo_hate_crime_data_for_2010.pdf

- The transgender charity Gender Identity Research and Education Service (GIRES) reports that over 1,000 people a year are now medically changing their sex. For more information please visit www.gires.org.uk

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E:
media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk

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