Transgender Day of Remembrance

One of the groups of people who face the most street harassment and the most vicious levels of violence are transgender persons. At least 20 transgender individuals were murdered since the beginning of 2011, according to the folks who run the Transgender Day of Remembrance website.

This is an outrage. No one should be harassed or killed simply for being who they are.

From the Transgender Day of Remembrance website:

“The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence.”

Today we remember and honor those 20 individuals murdered this year:

Reana ‘Cheo’ Bustamente
Génesis Briget Makaligton
Krissy Bates
Fergie Alice Ferg
Tyra Trent
Priscila Brandão
Marcal Camero Tye
Shakira Harahap
Miss Nate Nate (or Née) Eugene Davis
Lashai Mclean
Didem
Camila Guzman
Gaby
unidentified male dressed in women’s clothes
Gaurav Gopalan
Name Unknown
Shelley Hilliard
Jessica Rollon
Astrid Carolina López Cruz
Cassidy Nathan Vickers

We also honor and remember the 600+ people that have been documented by the Transgender Day of Remembrance folks and all those who have not yet been accounted for.

May there be a year in the near future when there are no new people to remember, when hate crimes cease.