How Was Transgender Day of Remembrance Started?
Great question! This special day, November 20th, was founded by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. Since the first vigil 22 years ago, Transgender Day of Remembrance has become an annual celebration of the lives lost to anti-transgender violence.
Unfortunately, violence against the transgender community continues to happen all over the world. In fact, according to the Human Rights Campaign, 2021 has seen at least 44 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means.
How Can I Get Involved?
Join us in participating in Transgender Day of Remembrance by educating yourself on who the transgender community is. Other ways you can get involved are:
- Listen to stories and experiences of transgender people
- Educate those around you
- Attend or organize a vigil to honor those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence
Join the fight to end anti-transgender violence by educating yourself on the transgender community and remembering those lost to violence. If you would like to learn more about Transgender Day of Remembrance, visit glaad.org/tdor.