Trans* Day of Remembrance honors lives lost to violence around the world

The Ohio University community honored more than 50 transgender people who were recently killed around the world due to anti-transgender prejudice during the annual Trans* Day of Remembrance ceremony on Nov. 20.

The Ohio University LGBT Center sponsored event, which was held at the Baker University Center’s fourth floor atrium, paid tribute to more than 30 international and more than 20 domestic trans* people who died because of their trans* identity.

The Trans* Day of Remembrance was created in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, who coordinated a vigil to commemorate Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was stabbed to death in her apartment in Boston on Nov. 28, 1998. It also culminates Transgender Awareness Week, which allows transgender people to share their stories and promote public advocacy around the issues of violence, prejudice and discrimination.

During the Trans* Day of Remembrance ceremony, OHIO students read short descriptions of each person who died, while Dr. Theo Hutchinson, associate professor of critical studies in the Patton College of Education, rang a chime after each reading to remind the audience to reflect on the life of that victim.

In addition to remembering the victims, the Trans* Day of Remembrance was used to solicit a call to action for transgender allies to take a stand to help end the violence and create a strong community of support for the often overlooked trans* population. 

“We honor them today and are here to bear witness that these lives walked the earth,” Dr. Hutchinson said. “They weren’t just pictures on a page. We will say their names and bear witness to their lives.”

Trans* student Tiffany Anderson, a Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major, made a plea to the transgender allies to not be silent and use their voice to create awareness and change.

“There should be conversations happening and actions being taken,” Anderson said. “Silence has no place in the fight for the equitable treatment of trans* people. I urge all allies to use your voice and platforms. Now more than ever, we need you to step up and bring attention to the violence that is happening to our community.”

Anderson also encouraged trans* students to not give up.

“Keep living your life as your authentic self. Your existence is valid, and it makes the world that much brighter,” Anderson said. “You are not broken, you are not needing to be fixed, you are perfect just the way you are. This is a tough time, but we will get through it together as a community. We will not be silenced and will not let the violence perpetuated against our community to be hidden.”

One trans* student who spoke pointed out that gender discrimination doesn’t always look like a gunshot, a punch in the face, or a bruise or a scar.

“Sometimes it’s as simple as someone saying she or her, he or him or it,” the student said. “Keep an ear out and keep an eye out. If you see it be vocal, because when you’re vocal we know you support us, and we know you’re safe.”

Another trans* student said the event was meaningful because the trans* community needs to make its own spaces because no one else will. The student also urged transgender allies to be heard on behalf of trans* people.

“We need to give calls to action to end all of this unnecessary and pointless violence,” the student said. “I want to say thank you for coming here to support us. Be a voice and make yourself heard when we can’t be voices for ourselves. We can’t be everywhere at once. This is why allies are important.”

Another student who identifies as pansexual pointed out that one study reported that more than 90 percent of trans* people said they are discriminated against in the workplace.

“I don’t understand why people aren’t treated like people,” the student said.

Trans* student Ser Spinelli, who made the six pride flags that are currently hanging in the Baker University Center, told allies that it’s important to support your friends in the LGBT community.

“I only came out as binary in August 2019 and I’m still picking out pronouns and figuring out what’s going on, but I’m blessed to have this community to help me do that,” Spinelli said. “It’s such a struggle for people without communities like this and I’m thankful that I was somehow in the right place at the right time.”

Micah McCarey, interim director of the LGBT Center, said Trans* Day of Remembrance was heartwarming because the attendees and speakers were sincere and present.

“The speakers were inspiring, and we’ve all been reminded of how important it is to honor these lost lives,” McCarey said.

To close the ceremony, Dr. Hutchinson said it was a day of transgender resilience. 

“We are here and the lives you see around you were here as well,” Dr. Hutchinson said. “We’re here, we’re queer, and we refuse to give in to fear.”