Trans Day of Remembrance

November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR).

TDOR was founded by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence that year and began the world-wide observance that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

This year again it is important to highlight that the reality that awareness and visibility without active protection of civil liberties, activism and action, leaves trans and non-binary people more vulnerable.

Each year it seems we have an unprecedented number of anti-trans bills being pushed and each year it seems we have an unprecedented number of deaths of trans and gender diverse people. This is not a coincidence.

Trans and non-binary people need our active support and protection now more than ever with the incoming president and the plans he has openly discussed for the future of affirming medical care.

It is well past time to demand justice for trans and gender diverse people in life and not just honor them in death. It is time for those of us in positions of power and privilege to use those resources to up-lift others and fight for their rights and safety.