Trans community ‘disproportionately’ hit by Covid-19 restrictions

The transgender community has been "disproportionately" affected by coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the mayor of South Dublin County Council has said.

Independent councillor Peter Kavanagh was speaking as a trans flag was raised by the local authority at its county hall offices in Tallaght ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which takes place on Saturday and commemorates victims of transphobic violence.

Vulnerable group

Cllr Kavanagh said trans people “rely on their community for support”, particularly younger members of the community.

“Lockdowns and restrictions have meant that accessing these communities hasn’t been as easy, and has disproportionately affected trans people who don’t get to be themselves outside of their community,” he said.

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Cllr Kavanagh, a former Green Party Dáil candidate, said “trans people want to be themselves, and it’s an act of common human decency to facilitate this”.

The mayor was joined by council colleagues Cllr Pamela Kearns, Cllr Francis Timmons and Cllr Charlie O’Connor for the flag-raising.