Transgender Day of Remembrance
Every November 20th is Transgender Day Of Remembrance (TDOR), an annual international observance that honors the lives of transgender people lost to acts of anti-transgender violence. Started in 1999 as a candlelight vigil held in San Francisco for Rita Hester, a black transwoman who was murdered in Allston, Massachusetts, annual gatherings and vigils across the globe continue every November 20th to help a community grieve, heal, and empower one another.
2020 has been a devasting year for many as the world battles a health, economic, and social crisis simultaneously. The New York Times reported last week that 2019 saw the highest rise in hate crimes in over a decade, and the Human Rights Commission has already captured 36 transgender and gender non binary (TGNB) violent hate crime murders this year (up 10 from last year), the majority of whom were black transgender women.
Washington state has the 11th largest TGNB community with just under 36,000 youth and adults, and the UW Medicine Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Health Program is working diligently to facilitate quality and inclusive gender affirming health care for our TGNB patients.
Please join us in taking a few minutes today to reflect on anti-transgender violence and the TGNB lives lost this year.
“Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”
– Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith
For information about the UW Medicine Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Health Program:
Listen – The Transformer UW Medicine Podcast Episode 11: Transitioning to Gender Awareness
Web – UW Medicine Transgender and Gender Non-Binary (TGNB) Care
Local virtual observance events in Seattle:
Gender Alliance of the South Sound TDOR
The Gender Alliance of the South Sound is teaming up with Seattle Central College for a Transgender Day of Remembrance event featuring guest speakers Julia D’Poon and Nicole Perry.
(Friday, November 20)
Trans Awareness Week & Trans Day of Remembrance at Gay City
Gay City invites trans community members to send in artwork (or tag them in photos of their artwork on social media) relating to various issues facing trans people. “Artwork can be made specifically for the occasion, or you may use this as an opportunity to share existing work, so long as it relates to TDOR or trans visibility and awareness,” write the organizers. In addition, they’ll have online panel discussions on gender-affirming healthcare (Tues Nov 17) and intergenerational trans voices (Thurs Nov 19).
(Through November 20)
TDOR with U.T.O.P.I.A
QTPI-led nonprofit U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance service promises words and talent from community members.
(Friday, November 20)
Whatcom PFLAG Transgender Day of Remembrance
The Whatcom chapter of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will gather online for a celebration of trans resilience. They’ll call out 40 names of trans people who have died from gender-based violence.
(Friday, November 20)