Grace Cathedral

Grace Cathedral

Article | November 20, 2020

Transgender Day of Remembrance: Honoring the strength and resilience of this community.

Blog|Alina Dennis

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day of reflection and honoring the lives lost due to anti-transgender violence. 2020 has been one of the deadliest years for the trans community due to anti-trans violence and has lead to considerable loss, a majority of which were trans women of color.  Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed at the end of Transgender Awareness Week- a week that aims to raise awareness and visibility around the transgender community and the issues they face.   

Today we remember all the transgender people that we have lost due to violence and bigotry. Founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in remembrance of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998, the day is meant to remember and honor the lives lost and in doing so illuminate the horrors of anti-transgender violence.  

We invite you to and educate yourself with new stories and perspectives. Learn about how to be an effective ally from the folks at GLADD, watch films like Disclosure on Netflix that may broaden your perspective to the harmful ways the transgender community is portrayed in media, and read articles and resources from the team over at HRC. 

Education helps us all understand the transgender community and the nuances of their experiences in our society.   

Learn, and then use your voice to create change. Listen to the stories of others, learn from experiences that differ from yours, and advocate for justice. Remember and acknowledge the beautiful and vibrant individuals that have been lost due to anti-transgender violence. In doing this, we create a welcoming and safe future for all. 

Remember- all human beings are worthy of respect, tenderness, acknowledgment, and equal rights. At Grace Cathedral we make a commitment to do all we can to uplift transgender individuals and amplify their voices in our community. 

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