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Campaigners and unions will today (Tuesday) mark Trans Day of Remembrance – an annual event that remembers transgender people murdered because of their identity.

date: 20 November 2012

embargo: For immediate release

Campaigners and unions will today (Tuesday) mark Trans Day of Remembrance - an annual event that remembers transgender people murdered because of their identity.

256 transgender murders were reported in 2012 - a 16 per cent increase on the year before.

With only 29 countries supplying figures on the number of transgender people killed in 2012, the TUC believes the real figure is likely to be considerably higher.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'This increase in transgender murders is shocking and these are just the cases we know about. These horrifying figures show why it is essential that we combat transgender prejudice across the world.

'In the UK we have made enormous strides forward for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. However, there is no room for complacency even here.

'Police reports show that in the UK, transgender people are far more likely to be victims of hate crimes, and transgender union members speak of facing regular abuse and harassment.

'The government has produced an excellent action plan for progress towards genuine equality for the transgender community but there remains an enormous amount of work to do.

'As we mark Trans Day of Remembrance it essential that we continue to challenge discrimination and intimidation in both this country and abroad.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Information collected by the Trans Respect versus Transphobia Project, run by Transgender Europe can be found here: www.tgeu.org.

- The TUC supports and promotes transgender equality on the advice of its LGBT committee and annual conference.

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

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

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
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk

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