Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
What is Transgender Day of Remembrance?
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester's death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.
"Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people -- sometimes in the most brutal ways possible -- it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice."
- Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith
TDOR is a memorial. An opportunity to say the names out loud to honor their lives being cut short.
Aurora Higgs and I read the following names aloud. I hope you will take a moment to listen or read.
Tyianna Alexander Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín Bianca “Muffin” Bankz Dominique Jackson Fifty Bandz Alexus Braxton, also known as Kimmy Icon Braxton Chyna Carrillo, who also went by Chyna Cardenas Siblings Jeffrey “JJ” Bright Jasmine Cannady Jenna Franks Diamond Kyree Sanders Rayanna Pardo Jaida Peterson Dominique Lucious Remy Fennell Tiara Banks Natalia Smut Iris Santos Tiffany Thomas Keri Washington Jahaira DeAlto Whispering Wind Bear Spirit Sophie Vásquez Danika “Danny” Henson, who also went by Pryynce Daniel and Niia Da Don Serenity Hollis Oliver “Ollie” Taylor Thomas Hardin Poe Black, who also went by Oliver Jackson and Legion EJ Boykin, who also went by Novaa Watson Aidelen Evans Taya Ashton Shai Vanderpump Tierramarie Lewis Miss CoCo Pooh Johnson Disaya Monaee Briana Hamilton Kiér Laprí Kartier Mel Groves Royal Poetical Starz Zoella “Zoey” Rose Martinez Jo Acker Jessi Hart Rikkey Outumuro, a.k.a. Tru Starlet Marquiisha Lawrence Jenny De Leon
We send our love to all the families and friends of these people, our siblings, who have lost their lives to hate and bigotry.
In loving memory Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021
