How to Find a Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil Near You
Today is the last day of Transgender Awareness Week. Beginning on November 12th, the occasion was established to celebrate our transgender community, take action to improve the lives of trans people, and to remember those who have lost their lives to acts of anti-trans violence. That is what November 20th is all about, actually: Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day, as the Human Rights Campaign points out, that serves as a “solemn tribute to those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice and also raises awareness of the constant threat of brutality faced by the transgender community.”
In an email sent out this morning, HRC laid out a handful of reasons why it’s important for us to take part in days like this.
- Transgender people are 1.5 times more likely to face threats and intimidation compared to the broader LGBT community
- 72 percent of anti-LGBT homicide victims were transgender women, significantly up from 53.8 percent in the previous year
- 67 percent of the victims were transgender women of color
- 78 percent of transgender children in grades K-12 reported being harassed in school
- 35 percent physically assaulted
- 12 percent sexually assaulted
Our participation brings visibility to the cause, and by simply reaching out, we’re showing our trans brothers and sisters that they have a support system.
There are thousands of events going on around the world today. The closest one to us in Philadelphia is happening this evening at 7 p.m. at William Way Community Center, called “International Transgender Day of Remembrance: A Time for Reflection, Trans Progression and Community Connection.” More information here.
Not in Philly? You can check out HRC’s database of events here.
