NO MORE KILLINGS! (Statement of the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch on the Transgender Day of Remembrance 2011)

NO MORE KILLINGS!

The Government must act now to define Hate Crimes and give justice to victims and survivors!

Statement of the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch on the Transgender Day of Remembrance 2011

Today the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch, an alliance of organizations and individuals united to end hate crimes and hate incidents committed against LGBTs in the Philippines, is supporting the global observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance, today 20 November 2011.

The Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch calls the attention of the public and the government to the fact that many Filipino transgenders and those who were presumed as transgenders were murdered since 1996. Doubling the tragedy of the fact of their deaths is our government's continuing inaction and apathy towards the appeals of the LGBT community to render attention in the form of investigations, prosecutions and punishment of perpertrators. To date, no one stands accused of inflicting crimes based on hate and bias towards LGBTs, and in some few cases of legal action, the incidents are treated as ordinary crimes.

The Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch continues to lobby for the Philippine government to change its attitude and work methods to reflect the growing numbers of unsolved deaths of our transgender brothers and sisters. It is only a fitting act of justice to the transgendered communities if our government agencies begin to pay closer attention to the problem and introduce legal and administrative reforms.

To the public, we continue to plead for vigilance and heightened awareness that transphobia and homophobia is a reality in Philippine culture and it kills and maims transgendered, lesbian, gay and bisexual persons. It is now or never, we should start addressing transphobia and homophobia in our families, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces. The seemingly harmless taunts, harassment, and verbal abuse of our transgendered youth can lead to emotional distress from bullying and can lead to violence and bodily harm. We should stop denying that transphobia is a problem and continues to encourage hateful persons and groups in our country to find more victims.

Let this year's Transgender Day of Remembrance lead to more awareness of the needless deaths of our trans sisters and brothers. No more killings! Act now to outlaw hate crimes and bias crimes! Give justice to the victims and survivors!