BY AJ TRAGER
DETROIT – Once a year lesbian, gay and bisexual members of the LGBT community are called upon to stand in solidarity with the trans community and honor the lives of trans brothers and sisters who have been lost during the past year. The event is held every November to honor Rita Hester, whose 1999 murder kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil, the official website for the event states.
In 2015 alone, 22 trans men and women have been murdered with another 20 trans teens and young adults committing suicide. Of the 22 murdered, three of them were from Detroit. The Michigan LGBT community saw the loss of Ashton O'Hara, 25, who died July 14; Amber Monroe, 20, who died Aug. 8; and Melvin who was taken in October.
"The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes," Transgender Michigan wrote. "It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that the media doesn't perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express the love and respect for our people in the face of national indifferance and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who've died by anti-transgender violence."
According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 53 percent of trans people report being verbally harassed or disrespected in places of public accommodation, such as hotels, restaurants, airports and government agencies. Additionally, 90 percent of trans and gender nonconforming people report experiencing harassment, discrimination or mistreatment at work.
"There are now more transgender homicide victims in 2015 than in any other year that advocates have recorded. At least 21 people – nearly all of them transgender women of color – have lost their lives to violence," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "This kind of violence is often motivated by anti-transgender bias, but that is rarely the only factor. At a time when transgender people are finally gaining visibility and activists are forcing our country to confront systemic violence against people of color, transgender women of color are facing an epidemic of violence that occurs at the intersections of racism, sexism and transphobia – issues that advocates can no longer afford to address separately."
Thursday Events
The Spectrum Center on the University of Michigan campus will hold a community conversation 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Connector (tunnel connecting the Union to West Quad.) The event will feature trans-identified speakers from the university and the Metro Detroit community and a moment of silence, followed by a candle light vigil and a finale performance. More information on the event can be found here.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland will hold a vigil at 7 p.m. Nov. 19. The event is an interfaith event and will be held the day before Trans Day of Remembrance due to scheduling conflicts. Visit the website here.
Friday Events
The Gender Identity Network Alliance will host an event at the Central United Methodist Church in Detroit beginning at 7 p.m. Speaking at the event will be Victor Billione Walker of Ruth Ellis Center, Lilianna Angel Reyes of Affirmations and other community members. Providing music for the event will be Hannah Hartley and a local harpist. To RSVP, go to Facebook: here.
Join The LGBT Network of West Michigan as they commemorate and hold a vigil at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at the LGBT Network in Grand Rapids for the lives lost this year due to transphobic violence. Join West Michigan in a "Call To Action" vigil that will include an opening statement by Ember Kelley, a poetry reading, a 10-minute "speak out" session inviting 10 people to speak out, a vigil march and a closing statement by Mira Krishnan. For more information, visit the Facebook event here.
The Center, the new LGBT community center in Muskegon Heights, will hold a candle lighting ceremony and name recitation of those lost in the past year beginning at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20. Refreshments and fellowship will be available after the memorial. The Center is located at 2542 Peck St.
Sunday Events
The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership will hold a Transgender Day of Remembrance event beginning at 5 p.m. at Kalamazoo College. Featured speaker includes Crispin Torres of Lambda Legal, the nation's oldest and largest legal organization working for the civil rights of lesbians, gay men and people with HIV/AIDS. To RSVP visit the Facebook event here.
