Anna Murphy’s passing has left me shaken and deeply saddened. Anna was not just a friend and colleague — she was a tireless champion for our city and for equity. For years, she gave a huge amount of her life to improving our community, particularly in her work to make civic spaces more inclusive and responsive to the voices of people who too often go unheard.
She served on multiple advisory bodies — from the City of Calgary’s Social Wellbeing Advisory Committee and its Gender, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee to community advisory roles with the Calgary Stampede and cultural institutions — always showing up thoughtfully, well‑prepared, and dedicated to real change. She wasn’t there for attention; she was there to do the work and strengthen our institutions.
Her loss may be personal to those of us blessed to have known her, but it also has ramifications for our city. It forces us to confront the harder truths about the pressures facing the trans community — pressures Anna herself spoke openly about, including constant scrutiny, hostility, and emotional exhaustion amid ongoing fights for dignity and rights. Many trans people live with persistent hostility while still being expected to lead, explain themselves, and absorb abuse; that burden is real and it takes a toll.
Grief alone isn’t enough. This moment must be one of responsibility. We must take the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of trans people seriously — in our policies, our institutions, and in how we act every day. Honouring Anna means carrying forward her work and ensuring that those who now take up the torch do not carry it alone.
We will fight for a city where trans people are safe, respected, and able to live fully. We will fight for dignity, fairness, and basic humanity. And we will win.
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