By Ben Cantrell, TWR Youth Action Fellow ‘20
Rita Hester. A trans woman of color was murdered on November 28, 1998.
Since 1999, communities have come together on November 20th to remember Rita and other trans people who have been murdered. In 2010, Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) came more into the light as 185 cities held vigils to honor trans people that had been murdered due to transphobia. This event has since become an international day in which candlelight vigils happen.
Trans Day of Remembrance is an incredibly important day to acknowledge as trans people are brutally murdered in the streets to this day. In 2019 alone, 27 trans people were killed in the United States. Of those, 19 were Black trans women.
Trans Day of Remembrance is not only a day of remembrance, but also a day to uplift trans people across the globe. The shadow of violence follows the trans community throughout their daily lives, and their lives often are overlooked by society, leaving their memories in the dust. However, as TDOR happens this year, it is important to remember that trans people are valuable and vital within our communities. Their lights shine brighter than ever.
As we celebrate the vibrancy of the trans community, we must remember to acknowledge the lives lost this year:
Dustin Parker
Neulisa Luciano Ruiz
Yampi Méndez Arocho
Scott/Scottlynn DeVore
Monika Diamond
Lexi
Johanna Metzger
Serena Angelique Velázquez Ramos
Layla Pelaez Sánchez; Penélope Díaz Ramírez
Nina Pop; Helle Jae O’Regan
Tony McDade
Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells
Riah Milton; Jayne Thompson
Selena Reyes-Hernandez
Brian “Egypt” Powers
Brayla Stone
Merci Mack
Shaki Peters
Bree Black
Summer Taylor
Marilyn Cazares
Dior H Ova
Queasha D Hardy
Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears
Lea Rayshon Daye
Kee Sam
Aerrion Burnett
Mia Green
Michelle Michellyn Ramos Vargas
Felycya Harris
Brooklyn Deshuna
Sara Blackwood
Angel Unique
Yunieski Carey Herrera
Violence against the trans community is growing yet again, and it is vital to celebrate trans identities while also remembering the lives lost throughout the years.
If you would like to deepen your understanding of the issue of violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people, you can read this recently published report by Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
#TogetherWeRemember
Ben Cantrell is a history major at Indiana State University. He is currently acting as the Pride Center of Terre Haute’s Social Justice Director and is a Youth Action Fellow with Together We Remember. He formerly helped co-found Terre Haute Teens for Action. His work is what drives him to dream and work for a vibrant and diverse society around the world.