About Trans Day of Remembrance

Content Notes: transmisogyny, transphobic violence, mentions of the murder of trans women

Trans Day of Remembrance was first observed in 1999 as a collective response to the 1998 murder of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman from Boston. In the years immediately preceding Rita’s death, there had been a number of trans women lost to violence, and organizers held space to honor their lives and ensure they were not forgotten. In the years since, Trans Day of Remembrance has become a space for the trans community to mourn the community members lost to transphobic and transmisogynistic violence across the world. Transphobic and transmisogynistic violence is, if anything, even more prevalent now than in years past, and events like Trans Day of Remembrance serve to uplift our community members and counter the narrative that awareness alone will bring about safety for the trans community. Trans Day of Remembrance centers those lost to violence, primarily Black trans women and other trans people of color. As we honor the community members we’ve lost to violence in this past year, it is important to show up for the trans people who are still here, and fight for safety and resources for those most vulnerable to transphobic and transmisogynistic violence.

-Charlie Garcia-Spiegel (He/Him), QRC Staff and Student Leader