A Green Party councillor has put forward a motion for Cork City Council to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility in 2020. Observed yearly, Transgender Day of Visibility raises awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people as well as celebrating the community.
The motion calls on Cork City Hall to be lit in the colours of the Transgender Pride flag on Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31st. Green Party councillor Lorna Bogue put forward the motion, which reads, “This council recognises the contribution our transgender community makes to the city of Cork. However, Cork City Council notes that many within the Transgender Community still suffer discrimination and that visibility of the community is an important part of raising awareness and overcoming discrimination.”
As part of the motion, Transgender Pride flags will fly along the top of City Hall. In response to the motion, Cork City Council said the request “could be accommodated.”
Following the motion submission, the Chair of the Green Party’s LGBT+ group ‘Glas Aiteache,’ Robert O’Sullivan said, “When you grow up as gay or trans, there can be an underlying fear that people around you hate you for who you are, despite not knowing your name or knowing anything about you. That can have serious repercussions on your mental and physical health, a fact sadly represented in the high self-harm and suicide statistics among trans people.”
O’Sullivan further stated, “This isn’t a measure that’ll end transphobia, or end that hatred some people have for trans people, but it is a message from the city of Cork, to its trans citizens, that tells them that they are welcome here, and that the bigots do not speak for the majority of the people of Cork.”
Councillor Bogue further highlighted the importance of commemorating Transgender Day of Visibility 2020, “The transgender community face hardships and roadblocks just to live their lives every day that we might not even know about. Access to healthcare is limited to one unreliable clinic in Dublin when it could easily be done locally, for example. Our transgender friends and colleagues play an important part in our lives and in our city, and it’s time we formally recognise that.”
The motion will be put forward for a formal vote, estimated to take place in a December/January sitting of Councillors.
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