Every year in November, the Boston transgender and gender nonconforming communities come together to mourn those who have been taken from us due to anti-transgender violence. This tradition began in 1998, with the murder of Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts. Now, two decades later, the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is honored worldwide. This is a day to remember the lives of the hundreds of transgender and gender nonconforming people who died by violence over the past year.
While 2020’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance takes place on Friday, November 20, observances are taking place throughout Transgender Awareness Week (Nov. 13–19) and into the coming weekend.
In Boston, Trans Resistance MA is hosting a virtual event via Zoom on Sunday, November 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. RSVP here.
And on Cape Cod, a virtual gathering takes place on Thursday, November, 19, at 7 p.m. and includes speakers Michael Cox of Black & Pink; Jennifer Love of the National LGBT/HIV Criminal Justice Working Group; Lysetta Hurge-Putnam, executive director of Independence House; Rabbi Elias J. Lieberman; and Angelina Resto. The names of those from the transgender community who are no longer with us will be read. RSVP here.
Notes the Boston-based Fenway Health in a recent press release:
Sadly, instances of transphobic violence have only increased since Rita Hester’s tragic death. People of color and, particularly, transgender women of color face a disproportionate rate of hate violence. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality’s U.S. Transgender Survey, nearly half (47%) of all Black transgender respondents reported being discriminated against, verbally harassed, and/or physically attacked. Black transgender women (14%) were more likely to experience physical violence, compared to Black non-binary people (8%) and transgender men (7%).
The (HRC) has referred to 2020’s surge in transgender murders as “an epidemic of violence.” This year alone, at least 350 transgender and gender non-conforming people worldwide have been murdered. The actual number is likely much higher, as media reports all too often misgender the victims of these hate crimes.
The past four years have been an especially challenging time for transgender people and their allies, with the current administration’s attacks on trans rights in the military, health care, and public services. Despite that, we’ve continued to advocate, educate, and resist. The coming years hold promise for the advancement of transgender rights. President-Elect Joe Biden has pledged to work to undo transphobic actions by the current administration, including reversing the ban on transgender service members. Let’s continue to make our voices heard and insist that this new administration defend the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming folks. …
This week and every week, Fenway Health is proud to stand with the transgender community and provide comprehensive and affirming care for our more than 4,400 transgender and gender non-conforming patients. Please join us in taking the Pledge to End Violence Against Black and Brown Transgender Women.
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