Today is the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance that recognizes all of the transgender and gender non-conforming individuals who have lost their lives to violence. This year alone at least 331 transgender individuals have been killed across the globe.
Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor the life of Rita Hester. Rita died after being stabbed 20 times on November 28th, 1998.
If you would like to get involved in Transgender Day of Remembrance you can attend a vigil in your area or organize a vigil to honor all the transgender individuals that have lost their lives.
Transgender lives should be respected and protected every day, not just once a year and you can help that in a multitude of ways. Below are a few ways to help protect transgender and gender non-conforming individuals
- Lift up transgender/gender non-conforming voices
- Advocate for inclusive laws & policies
- Hire transgender/gender non-conforming individuals
- Work to help homelessness
- Donate to LGBTQ organizations
- Fight for the decriminalization of sex work
- Speak up against discrimination and violence against transgender/gender non-conforming people
