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Transgender Day of Remembrance marked at Langley churches

Local reverends offered a safe place and welcome to parishioners.
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Rev. Hilde Seal of the United Churches of Langley hosted a Transgender Day of Remembrance event Tuesday. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance)

The United Churches of Langley opened the sanctuaries of two churches on Tuesday to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The day of remembrance is to remember people lost because of violence and transphobia.

Rev. Hilde Seal said the event was to be “very informal,” as this is the first year the churches have marked this day.

“I think it’s important because we want to make a statement that all people are welcome,” Seal said.

The two churches, in Murrayville and Fort Langley, opened their doors from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Members of the public were invited to come by to sit in silence, pray, light a candle, or speak with Seal at Murrayville, or with Rev. Sophia Ducey at Fort Langley.

Seal said the church has parishioners with transgender family members, or who are members of or connected to the LGBTQ+ community.

After she announced the event at last Sunday’s service, Seal has heard from several members of the church thanking the reverends for organizing the event.

“This is part of how we make people feel safe,” Seal said.

Although this is the first year the churches have held this event, they are planning to do it again next year, Seal said.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded nearly 20 years ago in 1999, but has gained more prominence in recent years. The provincial government of Ontario officially recognized it and holds a moment of silence in the legislature since 2017.

In B.C., Premier John Horgan and Mitzi Dean, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, released a statement vowing to fight “the erasure of trans people and trans identities in our culture of history.”

“For too long, B.C. has fallen behind when it comes to supporting people who are transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse,” said the statement. “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and to live in safe, supportive communities.”

The United Churches chapels are Sharon Chapel in Murrayville at 21562 Old Yale Road (Five Corners) and St. Andrew’s Chapel in Fort Langley at 9025 Glover Road.



Matthew Claxton

About the Author: Matthew Claxton

Raised in Langley, as a journalist today I focus on local politics, crime and homelessness.
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