Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This week is transgender awareness week and I want to say a few words on that today. It is a week that helps to raise the visibility of transgender people through education and advocacy activities. It also addresses the issues of prejudice, discrimination and violence that affect the transgender community. As we are all aware, they endure much abuse as well as facing constant challenges to their civil rights, their safety and their health. For all of these reasons, the transgender community needs and deserves our support. In Ireland, we are very lucky to have Transgender Equality Network Ireland, TENI. This organisation is working tirelessly to ensure that regardless of gender identity or expression, people enjoy full acceptance, equality and human rights. TENI's work has helped to improve the lives of many trans people and their families. I would like to congratulate the organisation on its ongoing work.

Transgender awareness week culminates in a very special day on Friday, which is transgender day of remembrance. This day remembers the victims of transphobic violence. It was founded as a vigil to honour a transgender woman who was murdered in 1998. While transgender remembrance day is now an annual event, that woman's name has been largely forgotten, so I want to remember her in the Seanad today. Her name was Rita Hester. She was brutally murdered for being a transgender woman in Boston in 1998. We remember you today, Rita.

It is a word of caution because some of the commentary that we have seen lately regarding the transgender community has exposed it once again to the risk of physical violence. We see many words across mainstream and social media targeting the transgender community, denying it its rights and being downright abusive. That has to stop. People must recognise the pain and damage that they are causing. As a society, we should respect the transgender community. Those who refuse to do so must be constantly challenged and called out for their discrimination.

On behalf of the Seanad, I would like to send a message to our transgender community that we respect it, will support it and we are here for it. We send it our love and solidarity during this transgender awareness week.