November 20th is Trans* Day of Remembrance. There will be a candlelit vigil in the piazza, to remember those we have lost to anti-transgender hate or prejudice.
The time is yet to be confirmed, but will likely be around 7pm.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.
Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people.
We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred based violence, especially since the events of September 11th. Yet even now, the deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. This trend shows no sign of abating.
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.
– Taken from taken from RememberingOurDead via TransgenderDoR
If anyone would like to get involved, for example providing readings, please contact trans@warwickpride.org.
The always up-to-date event page from the calendar is here.
It’s so good to see my old Uni marking this occasion. I was only just starting to come to terms with my own issues back in 1981 in my early days as a Warwick student, and have only this year finally started living and working in my affirmed gender. May the event help promote awareness and affirmation of Trans people. I wish you all every success
Julianne
Warwick 1981-84
Thank you
I’m building a website of the UK events, http://www.TDoR.org.uk, to help and inspire people who want to organise something next year.
I really hope someone will send an account of the TDoR event in the piazza, preferably with a picture or two.
It’s not difficult, just remember that you remember what you did but almost no one else looking at the site for ideas has any concept of what it was like.
I hope someone will send something.
Contact details are on the site, but TDoR@titipu.demon.co.uk is the short way to make contact.
Please someone … anyone!
Hey. Thanks for setting up that website.
http://home.warwickpride.org/2011/11/trans-day-of-remembrance-yesterday/ is the (very) brief write-up of the event we held.