Violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals have been going on in our country and world for far too long. November is Transgender Awareness Month, a time to honor people who identify under the umbrella term transgender. This term includes gender-diverse, gender-expansive, nonbinary, queer gender, and many other terms for gender identity that is not cisgender. The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a way to recognize the deaths that have occurred in the transgender community and to prevent erasure from their memory.
This solemn day is observed annually on November 20, and has been since 1999. Transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith began this observance in the memory of a murdered transgender woman named Rita Hester. Rita, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, died in 1998. She was stabbed in her apartment and the assassin has still not been found. A tragic event has spawned recognition in many countries throughout the world. It is a way to document the lives that have been lost from anti-transgender violence. This post will discuss this observance and how to combat anti-transgender erasure and violence.
One of the deadliest aspects of anti-LGBTQ+ violence is that many people in power do not take it seriously or even encourage discrimination and hatred. That is certainly the case for the upcoming presidency, and it will be challenging to ensure safety and civil rights in such a conservative, fear-based environment. After the results of the election, many people felt despair and grief about the loss of rights for many people.
However, it is important not to despair too much because that disempowers people and makes them hopeless. We cannot afford to be positive and silent in the face of such rhetoric. Whether you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, it is important to acknowledge our grief as well as find ways to be proactive in response to violence against vulnerable communities.
Why do we need a Transgender Day of Remembrance?
When a group of people is disenfranchised or stigmatized, their pain is often ignored or erased. The general public may see them as less than human and undeserving of compassion and respect. The political and social climate surrounding the LGBTQ+ community is still filled with discrimination, despite efforts made to accept and embrace LGBTQ+ folx.
This is particularly true for transgender people, who have been targeted for anti-transgender legislation in increasing numbers over the past few years. Additionally, poverty and racism add to the poor living conditions of many transgender people of color in our country. When we combine all these factors, it’s important to restore some respect and dignity to the way we speak of, think of, and treat gender-diverse people in our country. Ideally, we would not need a day of remembrance for any human beings slain in hatred or in war. However, we are not there yet, unfortunately.
How can we honor transgender people in November?
Despite the dismal and brutal murders that occur against gender-diverse people in our country, we can be allies and speak up for transgender people when someone speaks ill of them in our presence. This includes showing up at LGBTQ+ celebrations, vigils, or demonstrations for transgender rights.
Using inclusive language when referring to transgender people is another way to honor transgender people. Use the correct pronouns and preferred names, and don’t insist on “dead naming” the person just because you knew them before they transitioned or came out as transgender. Don’t make assumptions about their gender based on appearance.
You can also educate yourself about transgender culture and issues.
This is a good way to fight the hatred and potential for violence that ignorance and fear fuel. It can also prevent you and people you know from making transphobic assumptions, thus combating stigma and the spread of misinformation. Look at your assumptions about gender and explore your own biases, and if someone else makes an error or assumption, you can gently confront them about it without shaming or alienating them.
Other ways to support transgender people is to donate or volunteer for organizations that advocate for transgender rights. You can also write to your elected officials about policies that affect transgender people, and let those officials know that you care about these issues. I have done that on several occasions, and I think it’s important to keep these issues in the spotlight in a positive way so they don’t get ignored by the government. You don’t have to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community to see them as important and deserving of dignity and respect.
If you want a safe place to talk about feeling unsafe or LGBTQ+ affirming therapy for transgender loved ones who have passed, please call me at 661-233-6771.
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