This is when you light a candle for someone who died. As the birthplace for the original vigil in honor of Rita Hester, city-wide events still take place on November 20th and on the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance.Įach year, the community gathers for a candlelight vigil. It comes as no surprise that San Francisco is still at the center of this day of remembrance, even today. This is a day not only for the transgender community but for LGBTQIA+ and allies everywhere. No matter where you’re located, there’s a way to get involved. There are many places you can participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance. Where Can You Participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance? Though not a day for celebration, it is an important milestone in the long road ahead towards equality and justice. Not only does it bring her story to life, but the stories of the many who were lost along the way and since then. This annual vigil continues over 20 years after Rita Hester’s death. With so many seeking to erase transgender people - sometimes in the most brutal ways possible - it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice." “I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. The founder highlights the true meaning behind this important day in her own words : The vigil turned into an annual day of remembrance. Transgender Day of Remembrance founder was inspired by Hester’s story and the stories of all those who lost their lives too soon. This website is dedicated to sharing the stories of transgender people from around the world who were murdered due to prejudice and hate. On this website, the names and stories of those who lost their lives at the hands of violence and brutality were shared from around the globe. They held a candlelight vigil in San Francisco the next year, and a web project called “Remembering Our Dead” began. Though brutal and horrific, the lack of public response from the public fueled the transgender community to take action. To this day, Hester’s murder remains unsolved. She was last seen at a club in her neighborhood, and she was later discovered stabbed to death in her apartment on the 28th of November, 1998. Hester was a transgender woman of color who lived in Massachusettes. The momentum for Transgender Day of Remembrance began with the murder of Rita Hester. How Did Transgender Day of Remembrance Start? Get organized with our checklists and memorial tools. By honoring these stories, we undo the dehumanization that has taken place over the years. This is also an opportunity to shine a light on the community’s efforts to improve awareness and fight violence. Their stories are told on the official Transgender Day of Remembrance. Too many lives in the United States and across the globe are claimed by anti-transgender violence. There is no way to know the accurate number. This number is hard to track since it’s likely being undercounted. An average of 22 people in this community are victims of fatal violence each year. In 2019 alone, at least 26 transgender or gender non-conforming people were fatally shot or violently killed by other means. Transgender individuals only recently began to get national and international attention, and they still face high levels of violence. What Is Transgender Day of Remembrance?įounded by activist and advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith, this day of remembrance is a vigil to all of the transgender people who have lost their lives from violence. In this guide, we’ll share more about this holiday, how it got its start, and how you can get involved. Whether you’re transgender, an ally, or simply interested in getting involved, this is an important day to know about. It’s a time for togetherness, inclusivity, and honoring those who are no longer with us. This date and the week before it are all about bringing visibility to transgender people and the issues faced by this community. How to Do Your Part on Transgender Day of Remembrance.Where Can You Participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance?.How Did Transgender Day of Remembrance Start?.What Is Transgender Day of Remembrance?.Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20th that honors the memory of the transgender individuals who lost their lives at the hands of injustice. Advocates have fought for and continue to fight for equality for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
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