Transgender Day of Rememberance, the final day of Transgender Awareness Week, is held on Nov. 20. Not for the reiteration or emphasis of transgender issues, but that of the very real instances of violence in the transgender community.
This national event is in recognition of the murder of Rita Hester of Boston, MA, a transgendered person of color, on Nov. 28, 1998 – and the murder of Chanelle Pickett on Nov. 20, 1995. The day of remembrance is accompanied with name readings and candlelight vigils, organized in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, an advocate for transgender rights.
The TDOR emphasizes the disparity of the treatment of transgender persons outside of the mainstream gay community, usually dismissed and or ignored in the news media, and disrespected posthumously in remembrance of, and/or the consequences assigned to the perpetrators of transgender-directed violence. Locally, the Transponder of Eugene – a transgender nonprofit in Eugene, Oregon which provides support education and resources for trans/gender-diverse community and allies – is holding a “Free” TDOR event at the University of Oregon, Erb Memorial Union on Sunday, Nov. 20 from 3 p.m.-6 p.m.to honor the trans and gender diverse lives that were lost in the past year to anti-transgender violence. Hoping to gather together in awareness and commiseration of those that were victims of transgendered directed violence.
The event will include:
A guided somatic experience by Steph Young, a movement advocate for expressionist arts, that gives participants a choice level of motion and visualization. There will be spaces for people to leave flowers on the altar as well as a living wall in which people can leave names of loved ones they have lost. This event will have food provided and ASL interpretation available.
According to The Transponder, for further info, please contact tara@transponder.community and include the full name of the individual if you would like to add a name into the living memorial wall.
