On November 20th, people throughout the world will memorialize those who have lost their lives to transphobic violence. Transgender and gender non-conforming communities are disproportionately targeted by acts of hate violence. Transgender Day of Remembrance gives us pause to recognize the toll this violence has on our communities and to remember those who we have lost. The day is held in November to honor Rita Hester, who was murdered in 1998. Rita's death sparked the creation of the Remembering Our Dead website, and subsequently an annual candlelight vigil starting in San Francisco, CA.
 
What your GSA can do to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance
Although this day honors the lives that have been lost to transphobic violence, it is also a commemoration of our resilience as a community. A few activities your GSA can do to recognize this important and powerful day are:

• Hold a moment of silence at your GSA meeting
• Put up posters through out your school remembering our community
• Set-up an informational table about transgender and gender
• Host a movie screening of Two Spirits, a story about Fred Martinez
• Host a candlelight vigil in your community
• Have your GSA attend a community event

For more information on Transgender Day of Remembrance and organizations serving the transgender community, check out these sites:

Transgender Day of Remembrance
www.transgenderdor.org
 
Transgender Law Center
www.transgenderlawcenter.org
 
CUAV- Community United Against Violence
www.cuav.org
 
Transgender, Gender Variant, Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP)
www.tgijp.org
 
TransYouth Family Allies
www.imatyfa.org

Gender Spectrum
www.genderspectrum.org