Today marks the 25th Transgender Day of Remembrance, when we honor the lives of those who died because of anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. I wish all of my transgender friends and readers love and support on this day of mourning.
Content warning for transphobic violence and suicide.
Advocates for Trans Equality’s Trans Remembrance Project counts 309 trans people who have died by violence worldwide between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024, inclusive. Of those, 43 were in the U.S.
TGEU (Trans Europe and Central Asia) counts 350 trans and gender diverse people reported murdered since its 2023 update, with more than 5,000 total recorded murders since TGEU began monitoring in 2008. It also reports that:
- 94% of the reported murders were of trans women or transfeminine people.
- 93% of the reported murders were of Black or Brown trans people, a 14% increase from last year.
- One-third of reported murder victims were aged 31 to 40, and a quarter were aged 19-25.
- 15 trans youth under the age of 18 years (nearly 6% of the total) were murdered.
- Almost three-quarters (73%) of all reported murders were committed in Latin America and the Caribbean. For the 17th consecutive year, Brazil leads the country rankings, with 30% of total cases.
In the United States, Sue Kerr of Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents also compiles a list of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people who have died by violence. She has recorded 33 deaths in 2024.
All of these lists are far too long, though even one name would be too many. They are also likely undercounts, as many deaths are unreported or reported under a name that hides and denies the person’s trans identity. We must remember, too, that behind these numbers are names and lives. See Sue Kerr’s list in particular for insights into the lives of those whom we lost.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded 25 years ago by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor Rita Hester, murdered on November 28th, 1998, in Allston, Massachusetts. To learn more about the observance, I encourage you to read these three pieces:
- “2024 Remembrance Report,” from the Trans Remembrance Project
- “Rita’s Story,” by journalist and blogger Monica Roberts
- “This and Every TDOR: Remember Rita Hester,” by Diego Miguel Sanchez, director of advocacy, policy & partnerships at PFLAG
For those of us who are cisgender, today is a good day to reflect on what each of us must do to help end the violence against trans people, starting with our own actions, e.g., using someone’s self-stated name and pronouns, speaking out when we hear anti-trans remarks or hear of anti-trans actions in our communities, and educating our children, no matter what their own identities are, about what it means to be transgender or gender nonconforming and how to be supportive, respectful, and welcoming. We can celebrate and support the lives of trans people and listen to their stories.
Also, we should recognize the fear and anger that so many in the trans community are feeling right now over our country’s political direction, and the wave of anti-trans legislation that has been on the rise for several years. We must urge our legislators and policymakers to reject legislation and policies that demean and ignore trans people’s selves and human rights and nurture the violence. We can also donate to organizations like the Transgender Law Center, Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Advocates for Transgender Equality, Anti-Violence Project, and Trans Youth Equality Foundation, among others.
May the lives of those lost not be forgotten. May they inspire us to continue working for justice and peace.
