Tweet
On the 20th of November each year, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice with the International Transgender Day Of Remembrance (TDOR).
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder – like most anti-transgender murder cases – has yet to be solved.Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender – that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant – each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people.
We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred based violence, especially since the events of September 11th. Yet even now, the deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. This trend shows no sign of abating.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence.
As of yesterday morning, there are 119 documented deaths internationally that meet the criteria for inclusion for reading the list of the dead. That’s just shy of an average of 10 known deaths a month.
For those who are interested in U.S. deaths, I count 13 U.S. deaths on the list. For another year, that still averages to about one death a month in the U.S. due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
For me, after covering the Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder Trial last April, TDOR has been made all too personal. Angie was Latina; many lost lives on the list this year are from Latin America. And, I still see the image I saw in court of Angie lying on the floor in a pool of blood, hear the painful voices of her family members, and realize there are dozens of real people who died in anti-transgender hatred or prejudice this past year — just like Angie.
Hate and violence are all too real and personal for me; I don’t just see 119 disconnected names of victims of anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, but instead painfully see 119 human lives lost in anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
Select here for a list of those who will be remembered.
Select here for memorial event locations, dates, and times.
11 Comments
This will be my sixth one.Every year I keep hoping it’s the last one. But it never is. Until that day, we need to get LOUDER! It’s the only way we can ever hope to change things.
Press release from Rev. Meg Riley:
Memorial.I was unable to attend last year. There isn’t one in my region this year*. Last year I neither knew anyone whose name appeared on that list and did not know anyone who did. This year I do not know anyone who is on the list but know (and consider as friends) several people who know someone on that list. I know a future day will likely come when I, too, know someone who is on that list.
I’ll borrow from Venus Envy here: I hope there is not another TDOR, not because they are forgotten but because there are no more names to add.
* A fact I’ve vowed to ensure does not repeat in future years.
British PM speaks out against transphobia in support of TDoR.Today the British prime minister Gordon Brown stood shoulder to shoulder with the trans community to mark Transgender day of Remembrance.
In a first for a British Prime minister, Gordon Brown has made a statement describing violence and harassment against trans people as “utterly unacceptable”.
He made the comments to mark the 11th International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which recognises trans people worldwide who have died as a result of prejudice and hate.
In a statement given to PinkNews.co.uk, Brown said:
Deputy minister for women and equalities, Maria Eagle, also released a statement.
Eagle, who is the twin sister of lesbian minister for pensions Angela Eagle, said:
Britain has been plagued by a spate of homophobic and transphobic murders and attacks in the last three months. A gay man in his 60′s was attacked and murdered in Trafalgar square, London, by teenagers. A trans woman Andrea Waddell was strangled to death in her apartment in Brighton, Sussex. While 29 years old trans woman Destiny Lauren, was attacked in her flat in Kentish Town, London. She died the next day in hospital.
While its no victory given the recent murders, it is a move in the right direction when political leaders start speaking out against homophobia and transphobia.
Iowa CityI attended the Iowa City DOR earlier this evening. Kate Bornstein was in attendance as well (prior to giving a talk at a lecture hall adjacent to the DOR site.)
Denver Last night started out with a request for help – a transwomen went missing and the call for information about her came a couple of hours before we started.
Of note was Angie Zappata’s mother, family and friends in attendance. She made a plea for parents “to open your eyes” and accept your children and other children for who they are.
Conflicting numbersAccording to TransGender Europe, ( http://www.tgeu.org ) they claim 163 murders this year, 64 in Brazil alone! Venezuela’s next, followed by Honduras and the US.
Trans Europe numberTrans Gender Europe collates its numbers between June 08 & June 09 that’s why the numbers are different.
ahhh… I thought they followed convention. Silly me!
I used european numbers from November to November as well as USI crosschecked the lists, and eliminated duplicates. Since my service in White Plains last year did not include Lateisha Green (11/14/2008) we included her in our 168 total. So we had 167 plus 1 on our list.
I think we have better reporting from South and Central America than in years past, and sub-Saharan Africa and the middle east are still underreported.
We will probably never know actual worldwide numbers.
Joann
That’s trueUnfortunately, Joann that’s going to be all too true in repressive countries.
I’d also would include those executed by repressive regimes for being trans as well.