Started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed annually on November 20 to honor the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. The Human Rights Campaign shares in their report, ‘An Epidemic of Violence: Fatal Violence Against Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People in the United States in 2021’, that since tracking began in 2013 that Black women represent two-thirds of the 250 transgender and gender non-conforming persons who were reported victims of fatal violence. While the number of reported victims is high, the actual number may be higher as some victims’ deaths may go unreported and others may not be identified as transgender or gender non-conforming.
Several factors contribute to an anti-trans stigma including lack of family acceptance, hostile political climate, and cultural marginalization and invisibility. The factors are often worsened by racism and sexism, which already may include employment discrimination, health care and social services exclusion, unequal policing and criminal justice system, and more. Nationwide work has been done through legislation in 2021 including the enactment of 25 anti-LGBTQ bills, of which 13 are anti-transgender laws, across eight states. Overall, more than 130 anti-transgender bills were introduced across 33 states.
The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) will observe Transgender Day of Remembrance & Resilience on Thursday, November 18 at a gathering at the GSRC Annex at 5:30pm. GSRC provides resources, information and support to Trans individuals and those who support persons who identify as Trans, here at UNC. Stephen Loveless, GSRC Director, and their staff have worked with other areas across campus to develop a name in use / pronoun in use policy for the university, as well as on-campus housing opportunities based on gender identity. The GSRC also offers support through Affinity Groups, which provide a space to meet with others that share similar interests and identities, and a space to find community.
Take Action:
- Dismantling a Culture of Violence
- Trans Women of Color Collective
- Anti-Violence Project
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- Attend a Transgender Day of Remembrance event
- Attach the Transgender Day of Remembrance design elements to your email signature and/or use it in your social media
For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity and inclusion, the following resources are available: DEI Education and Resources, DEI & Antiracism Resources from the UNC Libraries, the Education Equity Toolkit from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the UNITE workshops for faculty, staff, and students.
