“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.”
- Gwendolyn Ann Smith – Founder of Transgender Day of Visibility
On Friday 20th of November it is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). On this day we take time to remember the Trans people around the world who have lost their lives to transphobia. We take time to show solidarity to all our trans siblings around the world and remind each other that while we may be far apart we are in the struggle for our freedom and rights together. We remember all the trans people who have worked tirelessly in the past to fight for our rights. We extend our deepest condolences to the friends and families of all the Trans and Non-Binary people who we have lost this year.
During this time of remembrance, it is very important that we take stock of who are the most marginalised and targeted members of our community. Consistently we see that Trans Women of Colour and Trans Sex Workers are the most likely to fall victim to transphobic hate crime and violence. We can not ignore intersectional identities and the compounded violence which they face so please pay extra care to any Trans Women of Colour or Trans Sex Workers in your life, now and generally.
This is not just a fight that happens far away, the current rise of anti-trans rhetoric is affecting trans people across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and the world. We have to come together against this rise in transphobic hate speech and show solidarity with one another across the entire LGBTQIA+ community. We are stronger together.
It is very important that we be aware of how difficult a week this could be for our trans and Non-binary friends. Please take some time to check up on your Trans and Non-Binary friends. Ask them how they are feeling, ask them if they need to talk, or just let them know you are available if they should need your support. Educate yourself around some of the barriers and injustices Trans and Non-binary people face in their daily lives. Call out transphobia wherever you see it, don’t leave the fight to trans people alone. Correct pronouns, defend your trans friends, demand that they be seen as equals in society, celebrate them.
Trans Rights are Human Rights.
Written by Sky Byrne