Transgender Day of Remembrance takes place every year on November 20th to honor transgender people whose lives were lost to violence. Advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith started the observance in 1999 as a vigil to remember Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed in 1998.
Today, around the world, Transgender Day of Remembrance is also part of Transgender Awareness Week. This week raises visibility for the transgender community and the issues they face.
qLit would like to not only remember the lives of those lost but also give voice to our transgender peers. We encourage you to listen to the speech given by Alex at the 2nd Annual Hungarian Transgender Pride. These words inspire us and help us to remember that we are not alone.
Sadly, in many countries, the media, politicians, and everyday people are attacking the transgender community and seeking to exclude them. On this, Alex reflects, “The attack on transgender people is not about transgender people at all, but about new perspectives and the persecution of those who criticize the system. If others are watching what is being done to us, they have reason to be afraid, because this sets a precedent for the oppression of others.”
We have to pay attention and listen to our peers. Transgender is the T in LGBTQ. Alex rightly states, “We have every reason to seek solidarity.” We must remember not only to ask for solidarity but also to voice our solidarity for others in our community. Because as Alex proclaims, “My freedom liberates others.” We need to strive for a society in which we all have equal rights to love and live in the way we choose.
“We don’t have to live in such a terrible world. It is important that we no longer remain silent and show each other that, despite all the difficulties, we are still human beings who can look each other in the eye and wish each other well.”
Let us honor those lost to violence today and make an effort to include others in these difficult times. A smile, a greeting, or simply looking another in the eye can mean a lot for inclusion.
