‘One human rights violation is a lot’

‘One human rights violation is a lot’

Statement of a transsexual in a press conference, Sept. 29, 2005

Good morning. My name is Lorraine Tagalog, a transsexual and resident in this wonderful city of Toronto. I am very grateful for your presence in this hastily called Press Conference here at the 519 Community Centre and I hope there will be a good amount of fair coverage about the things we need to address in this event.

Personally, I have been hesitant to pursue with the charges against a very powerful institution that has caused an injustice to me and my friend who is here this morning. I am worried about the repercussions of what could possibly happen in the process of our fight and so is the anticipated long and tedious battle ahead of us. But as I see it and based on what had happened in the past, I believe that something has to be done. This is not necessarily for me but for all the people with similar lifestyle I have who have experienced injustice perpetrated by the very institution that is supposed to enforce the law and create order in our society and so are the businesses and organizations that discriminate people like me.

I am here before you because of my belief and hopes that our pursuit for justice could prevent similar incidents in the future by seeing to it that the institutions and organizations especially the law enforcement agency who has the sacred task of ensuring peace and order in the society would not cause violations of people’s rights in the conduct of their essential and sacred duties.

What had happened was the third incident of harassment I personally experienced by the police organization. The past two incidents, although I don’t have the proper documentations as to the time and as to the police officers involved were supposed to be a cause for indignation but I did not act on those, thinking that I don’t want the hassle of filing complaints and most especially because I tried to protect the person who I was involved with and who was living with me when those two incidents happened. That said person wanted me to just let go of it due to his personal and career reasons.
Being a person who used to be very active in the human rights movement in the country where I am originally from, I believe and in conscience that one single case of human rights violation is a lot.

Furthermore, one case of human rights violation is a lot in this wonderful country I have called my home for the past 15 years. This is Canada and we are known throughout the world as a country that protects human rights, not only for the majority but for the minorities as well and regardless of their religion, political belief, status, lifestyle, sexual orientation, gender and gender preference.

As I said, we will be facing a tedious task in the process of our fight for justice and I hope you will be there for us and with us to know what will be going on with this case. A vigilant media and the concerned citizenry like you, who always side for fairness and for the truth are and will be the source of our strength.

Thank you very much.