Transgender Day Of Remembrance Commemorated Around The World
November is Transgender Awareness Month and today, November 20, marks the 17th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR).
Thousands will be coming together to commemorate the lives of transgender lives lost.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was first founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman, to memoralise the murder of trans woman Rita Hester in Allston Massachusetts.
Since it’s birth, the day has been celebrated annually on November 20 and this year will be no different. Cities around the world will hold vigils where they will read the names of the trans lives lost this year to anti-trans violence. Events are scheduled to take place in San Francisco, New Orleans, Iceland and more.
TDoR will be holding an event at London’s Centenary Building on Spencer Street from 5pm.
The event will feature speakers, performers and a serivce of remembrance and will commemorate transgender woman Vicky Thompson who was found dead inside the men’s prison where she was serving a 12 month sentance.
The Department of Education has become the first Government department to fly the flag for Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Womena nd Eaqualites told Buzzfeed that she was proud of being the first government department to fly the transgender flag.
“We have come a long way when it comes to raising awreness and increasing support for transgender individuals.”
“But we must continue to make further progress and ensure all members of our society can live their lives free from fear, and able to fufil their potental.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbon told Buzzfeed that he wishes those campaigning for Transgender rights and equality “good luck.”
“We remember those who have tragically lost their lives and offer our condolences on this day to their loves ones. And in remembering them we offer our solidarity to transgender people and others fighting for equality everywhere.”
According to the Daily Dot, an estimated number of 24 transgender people, mostly women of colour, have been murdered. The murders exceed 2015’s recorded number of 22 and marks the deadliest year for transgender people in the United States.
According to the Transgender Murder Monitoring Project, Brazil and Mexico lead the list of the most reported killings of transgender people with 123 and 52 murders.
These statistics, as well as the Transgender Day of Remembrance serves as a powerful reminder of the stakes of the fight for equality.
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