The Real Reveal: Transgender Day of Remembrance
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, who was also known as Davarea Alexander, was a 28-year-old Black trans woman shot to death in Chicago.
Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín, a transgender man, was killed in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.
Bianca “Muffin” Bankz, a Black transgender woman, was shot to death in Atlanta, Ga.
Dominique Jackson, a Black transgender woman, was shot to death in Jackson, Miss.
Fifty Bandz, a 21-year-old Black transgender woman,was shot to death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Alexus Braxton, also known as Kimmy Icon Braxton, a 45-year-old Black trans woman, was killed in Miami. Braxton
Chyna Carrillo, who also went by Chyna Cardenas, was killed in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.
Siblings Jeffrey “JJ” Bright, a 16-year-old trans boy, and Jasmine Cannady, a 22-year-old non-binary person, both from Ambridge, Pennsylvania.
Jenna Franks, a 34-year-old white transgender woman, was killed in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Diamond Kyree Sanders, a 23-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot to death in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Rayanna Pardo, a 26-year-old Latina trans woman, was killed in Los Angeles.
Jaida Peterson, a 29-year-old Black trans woman, was killed on Charlotte, N.C.
Dominique Lucious, a 26-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed in Springfield, Missouri.
Remy Fennell, a Black transgender woman in her 20s, was shot to death in Charlotte, N.C.
Tiara Banks, a 24-year-old Black transgender woman, was killed in Chicago, Illinois
Natalia Smut, a 24-year-old Black and Puerto Rican transgender woman, was killed in Milpitas, California.
Iris Santos, a 22-year-old Latinx transgender woman, was killed in Houston, Texas.
Tiffany Thomas, a 38-year-old Black transgender woman, was killed in Dallas, Texas.
Keri Washington, a 49-year-old Black transgender woman, was killed in Clearwater, Florida.
Jahaira DeAlto, a 42-year-old transgender woman, was killed in Boston, Mass.
Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, a 41-year-old Indigenous non-binary person, was shot in York, Pennsylvania.”
Sophie Vásquez, a 36-year-old Latina transgender woman, was shot and killed in Georgia
Danika “Danny” Henson, who also went by Pryynce Daniel and Niia Da Don on Facebook, a 31-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed in Baltimore, Maryland
Serenity Hollis, a 24-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed in Albany, Georgia,
Oliver “Ollie” Taylor, a 17-year-old white trans boy, died on May 19 after being kidnapped and shot in Gervais, Oregon.
Thomas Hardin, a 35-year-old Black transgender woman, was killed on in York, South Carolina.
Poe Black, who also went by Oliver Jackson and Legion, was a 21-year-old transgender man who was killed in Niland, California.
EJ Boykin, who also went by Novaa Watson, was killed in Lynchburg, Virginia on June 14
Aidelen Evans, a 24-year-old Black transgender woman, was found dead in March in Port Arthur, Texas.
Taya Ashton, a 20-year-old Black trans woman, was killed in Suitland, Prince George’s County, Maryland
Shai Vanderpump, a 23-year-old Black trans woman, was killed in Trenton, New Jersey, on July 30.
Tierramarie Lewis, a 36-year-old Black transgender woman, was killed in Cleveland, Ohio
Miss CoCo, a 44-year-old trans woman of color, was killed in Dallas, Texas
Pooh Johnson, a 25- year-old Black trans woman, was killed in Shreveport, Louisiana
Disaya Monaee, a 32-year-old Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Chicago, Illinois on September 6. “
Briana Hamilton was a 25-year-old Black transgender woman who was fatally shot in Chicago, Illinois
Kiér Laprí Kartier, a 21-year-old Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Arlington, Texas.
Mel Groves, a 25-year-old Black trans man, was fatally shot on Oct. 11, 2021 in Jackson, Miss.
Royal Poetical Starz, a 26-year-old Black trans woman, was fatally shot in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Zoella “Zoey” Rose Martinez, a 20-year-old Latina trans woman, was fatally shot in Maple Valley, Washington.
Jo Acker, a white 26-year-old transgender woman, was killed in Boise.
Jessi Hart, a white 42-year-old transgender woman, was killed in Banks, Oregon.
Rikkey Outumuro, a.k.a. Tru Starlet, was a 39-year-old Latina transgender woman who was fatally shot in Centralia, WA.
Marquiisha Lawrence, a 28-year-old Black trans woman from South Carolina.
Jenny De Leon was a 25-year-old Latina transgender woman who was found dead in Tampa, Florida.