Visibility vital for transgender people in Kamloops

“Every story is unique,” Oger told CFJC Today. “There are thousands or tens of thousands of us. We say that half a per cent of the population is transgender – that we know of, it might even be higher. Of those, some of us are not going through any trans-sexual medical transformation, some are.”

On Monday, the Kamloops Pride Society raised the Trans Pride flag at the community flagpole at city hall to recognize the importance of visibility for transgender people.

“Growing up, you see media representation [of transgender people], and it’s not always the best,” Kamloops Pride board member Beckham Evans said. “I did get to meet other trans people, so I didn’t get to see myself in others.”

Evans says it’s difficult to understand some of the challenges of transitioning genders until you experience them. Those experience are what led Evans to speak out.

“Going to university here at TRU is where I started my transition,” Evans explained. “It was through sort of experiencing some of the systemic barriers at school – I couldn’t have my name on my name tag, and having to come out to professors because your name doesn’t match on registration, and what bathroom am I going to use – all those things are what sparked wanting to help others.”

Both Evans and Oger agree the importance of International Trans Day Visibility is making sure transgender people are seen for what they are: people doing their best to make sense of the world, just like anyone else.

“Visibility is so important because we’re just normal people, just like everyone else,” Evans said. “With the same basic human needs and the want for love and connection, and I think we’ve been misunderstood.”

According to Oger: “Everybody’s valid and in the end, what’s really important is to try and recognize the validity of other people. Their stories are different than your story or my story, but they’re valid.”

by Adam Donnelly

Visibility vital for transgender people in Kamloops

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