Nov
Transgender Day of Remembrance 2020
Trans Day of Remembrance was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honour her memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was brutally killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death and began an important memorial that has now become an annual event.
This day raises public awareness of hate crimes committed against transgender people, an action that mass media often fails to perform. It is a day to publicly mourn and honour the lives of the trans people lost to anti-transgender violence and discrimination. On this day we have to reflect on how our actions as a society directly affect transgender people, especially trans people of colour, and how damaging the restrictions placed around their existence can be for them.
It is of utmost importance that we make sure that the trans people around us feel safe, heard and supported. We must commit to fostering an inclusive environment where all members of our community are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Today, let us all stand in solidarity, supporting the trans community and raising awareness to the violence they face and other issues that affect them.
Chrysalis, a local charity supporting transgender and questioning people, their families and close friends, is hosting an online vigil in honour of the trans+ people lost to violence in the past year. Tickets can be found here: Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil.
SUSU supports our Trans Student Community this Trans Awareness Week and beyond. If you’d like to get in touch, please email vpwelfare@susu.org.
Amam Azike
she/they
LGBT+ Officer 20/21
Tags: LGBT+, LGBT+ Officer, Trans Awareness Week, Trans Day of Remembrance
