Today marks the 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.
Too Many
Various sites report on the deaths of transgender people around the world, and each counts somewhat differently—but the point is that far too many trans people die far too soon, often by violence.
Advocates for Trans Equality’s Trans Remembrance Project counts 58 trans people who died between November 1, 2024 and October 31, 2025, with some overlap to capture those lost in October 2024 whose loss was not reported in time. Of the total, 27 were lost to violence and 21 to suicide, while eight passed from natural causes. Of the violent deaths, 17 were from gun violence.
Trans Lives Matter counts 365 trans people who died worldwide between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, most to violence or suicide; 67 were in the U.S. Many were very young, including teens.
TGEU (Trans Europe and Central Asia) counts 281 trans and gender diverse people reported murdered worldwide between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025. While this is a decrease from last year’s 350 cases, TGEU says that “this decline does not necessarily signal increased safety. It likely reflects growing invisibility of these murders in media reporting.” The organization also reports that:
- Sex workers (34%) remain the most targeted group of all known occupations.
- There is a notable rise in murders of activists and movement leaders, who are the second most targeted group by occupation this year, accounting for 14% of cases (up from 9% in 2024 and 6% in 2023).
- Echoing the pattern of previous years, 90% of reported murders were feminicides (victims were trans women or transfeminine people).
- 88% of victims were Black or Brown trans people, a 5% decrease from the all-time high last year (93%).
- Age distribution: 24% of murder victims were aged 19–25, 25% aged 26–30, 26% aged 31–40, and 5% under 18.
- 68% of murders occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean; Brazil leads the list for the 18th consecutive year with 30% of total cases.
- Five cases were reported in Europe, down from eight in 2024.
- 31 cases were reported in the United States, down from 41 in 2024.
- 44% of reported murders were shootings.
- 25% of murders occurred on the street, and 22% occurred in the victim’s own home.
TGEU has also launched a new website for its ongoing Trans Murder Monitoring Project, “dedicated to documenting fatal violence against trans people across the globe.”
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 reported on 19 deaths in 2025.
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 people. See Trans Lives Matter and Sue Kerr’s lists in particular, where you can click each person’s name for insights into their lives.
Remembering and Taking Action
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 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:
- “2025 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, VP, policy and government affairs, 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 our time or money 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.