Transgender flag to be flown over Carlow Town Hall next week

The transgender flag will be flown over Carlow Town Hall next week to mark Trans Remembrance Day. 

A motion by Councillor Adrienne Wallace (PBP) calling on Carlow Municipal District to fly the flag on November 20 in solidarity with the trans community was passed at a meeting in October. 

Cllr Wallace called it "a historic day for Carlow". 

She said, "Trans Day of Remembrance takes place on Sunday, November 20, with the Irish queer community set to mark the occasion across the weekend. Founded in 1999, the day serves as an opportunity to remember and memorialise members of the trans community who were victims of transphobic violence. It comes at the end of Transgender Awareness Week, which is celebrated from November 13-19th. 

"In recent times we have witnessed rural Ireland embrace and support the LGBTQ+ Community. This is another important milestone for the Trans community in Carlow to feel included and supported in their home county.

"However, the Trans community are still in the midst of a national healthcare emergency. Adolescent Trans healthcare collapsed in January and no replacement services have yet been established.

"Adding to this, a freedom of information request, supplied to the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) shows the waiting list for the adult National Gender Service (NGS) has increased this year by 126 patients to 790 people by August, potentially resulting in patients waiting up to ten years to be seen. 

"Healthcare provision in rural Ireland is also non-existent. So, although we fly the Trans flag to remember the dead we also have to recognise there is still a long way to go in terms of equal access to healthcare for the Trans Community in Ireland.”