By Hannah McDonagh
NEARLY HALF of transgender people under 26 said they had attempted suicide while 59 per cent said they had at least considered doing so.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual event on November 20 that is held across the UK to remember those who have lost their lives to suicide or transphobic violence.
This year Sheffield is hosting a Transforming Cinema, a film festival that focuses on transgender and nonbinary storytelling, taking place on November 19 and 20.
Claire Watkinson, organiser of the event, said: “We are very excited about bringing Transforming Cinema to Sheffield, a city well known for its creativity, and we have been so pleased to see the lovely people of Sheffield welcome the event with such open arms.”
The event aims to shine a light on trans cinema as organisers say it is very underrepresented or misrepresented in the mainstream media and this has a harmful effect on the way that trans people are understood.
Sarah O’Connell, a trans actress and campaigner for the trans community, said the day is an significant event: “It’s a very important day for our community, where we remember and reflect on all of the people that have lost their lives in the previous year. It’s an incredibly sad time, as so many beautiful lights have been extinguished too soon.”
O’Connell said the event will encourage upcoming filmmakers: “It’s an honour to be able to contribute to this fantastic event, which is sure to educate, entertain and hopefully inspire the next generation of trans filmmakers.”