Transgender Remembrance Day is November 20, 2022. On this day we honor the memory of those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence.
Imagine your life was in danger on a daily basis simply for being who you are. Imagine suffering discrimination not only in the workplace, but also in your school, in your church, or in your own family or even when you visit your health care provider.
If you can imagine this then you have a good understanding of what most transgender people endure on a daily basis.
Did you know that in 2019 twenty-six Americans lost their lives due to transgender violence?
These victims were killed by acquaintances, partners and strangers, some of whom have been arrested and charged, while others have yet to be identified.
Some of these cases involve clear anti-transgender bias. In others, the victim’s transgender status may have put them at risk in other ways, such as forcing them into unemployment, poverty, homelessness and/or survival sex work and sex trafficking.
Of the victims murdered, 80% were people of color, 55% were transgender women, and 50% were transgender women of color.
Transgender women survivors of hate violence were also more likely to experience police violence, physical violence, discrimination, harassment, sexual violence, threats, and intimidation compared to those who were not transgender women.
Violence and harassment were experienced by the more than 6,000 transgender people across a variety of contexts, including educational settings, at work, in interactions with police and with family members, at homeless shelters, accessing public accommodations, and in jails and prisons.
Additionally, murders of transgender people often go unreported, and the identity of transgender murder victims is often misreported, so the actual numbers are probably far higher.
So what can you do? Start by calling attention to local victims of anti-transgender violence.
Highlight positive stories of transgender individuals, and the dehumanizing discrimination they have faced in their every day lives.
Familiarize yourself with statistics on transgender violence and make your community aware.
Statistics from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) show that in schools, 16.2% of transgender students report being physically assaulted as a result of gender expression, while 32.5% experience physical harassment including bullying and physical assault. You can talk with transgender youth about their experiences growing up and create educational networks to fight such discrimination.
Contact local transgender and LGBTQ organizations to find out how they plan to observe Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Many universities and high schools, through their Gay-Straight Alliances and other organizations, hold candlelight vigils or other events to recognize the day.
You can also get involved in a local event or start one of your own.
Here are types some events to Look For:
- Candlelight vigils are the most common way that local communities recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance, Such events may also include:
- Marches
- Forums and panel discussions with local advocates
- Poetry or spoken word readings
- Art exhibits
- Movie screenings of feature films or documentaries that center on transgender characters or subjects
- Representations of the number of transgender people murdered, such as tombstone cutouts, memorials with photographs, or chalk outlines.
To learn more about what you can do, visit some of the resources listed below.
National Center for Transgender Equality
https://transequality.org/
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
https://www.glaad.org/transgender/resources
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
https://pflag.org/
The Trevor Project for Young LGBTQ Lives
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
If you are a transgender person who has experienced discrimination, contact one of the organizations listed here for a list of resources and support in your area.
And remember…having a transgender child doesn’t mean you’ve failed as a parent. Rejecting your transgender child means you’ve failed as a parent.
If you are currently feeling suicidal or know someone who is, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or dial 988 on your smart phone.
Together we can make a difference!