What is Trans Day of Remembrance? This is the day that we, in the trans community, set aside to remember and honour our dead: specifically, our dead brothers and sisters that have been killed because they are trans – killed because they dared to be themselves.
Killed because of intolerance and bigotry.
Killed because they did not fit into someone’s viewpoint of what makes a man or a woman.
They were of different races, of different religions, of different ages and from different countries around the world – and they died horrible deaths… beaten to death, shot, stabbed, beheaded, run over by cars….
We remember and honour them because it’s important to honour their bravery and conviction to live their lives honestly and to be the person they were meant to be.
And it’s important to remember them because, there but for happenstance, go we all.
In 2013 alone, there were a total of 238 cases where trans people were killed, according to Transgender Europe.
As trans people, we all know that this could happen to us – and we know that it’s up to us to continue to fight for the rights and protections that will make all of us safe. But it’s up to all of us to stand up and say, “No! This is not right!”
So please, on November 20, remember my fallen brothers and sisters. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Attend a Trans Day of Remembrance ceremony in your community, if you can. Above all, please support the efforts of all of those who are trying to advance the cause of getting trans rights enshrined in law, in all the countries around the world.
Let all of us help stop the killing.
To see a list of those persons being memorialized this year, go to www.transgenderdor.org
Kate Hart is the Union of National Employees’ national equity representative for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. This article was written as part of our union’s member journalism program. If you’d like to find out more, click here – to pitch a story or for any questions, please send an email to communications@une-sen.org.