What to know about Transgender Day of Remembrance

This is the door that opens for y'all. Not me. For y'all. It just made me realize that I'm not alone and that I don't have to go through this one. This is what success looks looks like. This is what community looks like. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. What does it mean to be transgender for a prom queen? It means leaving the football team to become the woman she's always wanted to be for a high school soccer player. It means fighting to play the game she loves. And for hundreds of others, it means striving to find peace and safety in a world that's not always accepting. MJ Rodriguez has just made history becoming the first transgender actress to win a golden globe for her role on pose. A show that's broken barriers by portraying storylines with trans characters played by trans actors. That recognition is a long time coming for the transgender community. Rodriguez and her peers bring visibility and awareness nationwide. These two high school students are doing the same thing in their communities. So I played football for about like six years, 6-8. And I remember, you know, during practices, I'd stare at the cheerleaders because I wanted to be with them. Evan bile. Asuka Nia was crowned Olympia High School's first transgender homecoming queen in the fall of 2021 in florida. She started transitioning just a few months before and when her classmates voted to give her the crown and Sash, it meant everything. And so did having a supportive date by her side. It just made me feel like I was actually I actually belong, not just like a joke because I was one of my fears. I was like in bed one night and just like what if they're just doing this to laugh at me. He made me feel just like any other girl. I was talking to a person that's on prom committee and they said that you won prom queen And I was just like, are you being serious in 2018 at homestead high school in Wisconsin. Then jr Nikko Nelson was crowned Prom Queen. She transitioned in junior high and said that she had her family and best friends support something that not all trans teens are fortunate enough to have. I was a boy when I met her and then when I started transitioning, she, I didn't think of me differently. People love makeup. Like love her and I'm like glad people can see her as the way I see her. I didn't win prom queen for being a transgender girl. I went prom queen for being Nico nelson. These young women have found support in their communities, but that's not always the case for many others across the country who face discrimination and violence Around the country. There's been an epidemic of murder of trans people. In fact, this year is the highest year, 48 murders that we've been able to count this year since we've been recording trans murders. The human rights campaign began keeping track in 2013 Since then at least 250 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been killed, The majority being women of Colour. One was Marquesa Lawrence. She was shot and killed in Greenville South Carolina on November 4, 2021. I just wish people stop being so heartless, care more love more understand, we love our family and she was a big part of it. Another was bee, love slater who was murdered on september 4th 2019 and Clewiston florida. She was such a kind heart and for someone that young and so kind spirited to be taken away so early is very devastating to anyone transgender day of remembrance honors their memory and the other victims of violence. But activists say the true number is much higher than what we know they're very common. And the reason that they're not seen in the headlines is that trans people often go unnoticed. Their stories are not heard. The story that often gets attention. The effort to ban transgender students from playing sports. I think it sends a really dangerous message to trans Children. I think the message that is being sent right now is that they are not worth protecting and that and that they're somehow less than or wrong states are introducing legislation to ban transgender athletes from competing as young as elementary school students. We believe in the state of florida of protecting the fairness and the integrity of women's athletics florida is one of several states that have passed laws, supporters say it's about fairness. But opponents say these bills do the opposite. The biggest problem with this issue is that you're underestimating how how good girls are at sports. Like that is. The worst part about saying it's unfair is you're telling girls they're already weaker. Please don't deny other transgender girls the opportunity to have these experiences and ability to be on a team. Just having fun and being active and learning about sportsmanship. Everybody should be able to participate regardless of their gender identity. The Justice Department, the Human rights Campaign and the w have all challenged these bands in court on behalf of transgender teens who may have been sidelined. Many of the lawsuits are still pending as these lawsuits go forward. Members of the trans community are undeterred using their voices to fight for acceptance by having that flag being up where it is. It shows that we're not alone, that there is folks that support us that support our friends and family that support our community. We're just people right. We are people like everyone else and we want to feel safe and feel inclusion in our communities. Just know that there are people out there like me who love you and accept you for who you are and you will be forever loved by everybody out there. Mm hmm. Mm hmm

Wednesday is Transgender Day of Remembrance, which focuses on trans people who have lost their lives because of violence. Here is what to know.What is Transgender Day of Remembrance?Transgender Day of Remembrance is marked every Nov. 20 and began in 1999 to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman who was killed in Massachusetts.The day marks the end of Transgender Awareness Week, which is used to raise public knowledge about the transgender community and the issues they face.The Williams Institute at UCLA Law estimates there are more than a million and a half transgender people in the U.S. ages 13 and older. And it says transgender people are over four times more likely than others to be victims of violence.Candlelight vigils, memorials and other events are held to mark the day. The Human Rights Campaign also released its annual report on deaths of transgender people in conjunction with the day.International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is designed to bring attention to transgender people, is commemorated in March.How many transgender people have lost their lives to violence?At least 36 transgender people have died from violence in the past 12 months since the last Day of Remembrance, the Human Rights Campaign said in its annual report. Since 2013, the organization has recorded the deaths from violence of 372 victims who were transgender and gender-expansive �� which refers to someone with a more flexible range of gender identity or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system.The number of victims is likely higher because many deaths often aren't reported or are misreported, or misgendering of the victims leads to delays in their identification.The Human Rights Campaign said there was a slight increase from the previous year, when it identified at least 33 transgender victims of violence.A large number of the victims tracked over the past year were young or people of color, with Black transgender women making up half of the 36 identified. The youngest victim identified was 14-year-old Pauly Likens of Pennsylvania.Two-thirds of the fatalities involved a firearm, the organization said. Nearly a third of the victims with a known killer were killed by an intimate partner, a friend or a family member.What is at stake politically?This year’s remembrance follows an election where advocates say victories by President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican candidates who focused on issues like transgender athletes dealt a setback to trans people’s rights.It also follows a wave of measures enacted in Republican states this year restricting the rights of transgender people, especially youth.Half the states have banned gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next month in a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's ban.Advocates say the legislation and rhetoric is creating fewer safe spaces for transgender people, and they worry it could spur more violence against trans people.

Wednesday is Transgender Day of Remembrance, which focuses on trans people who have lost their lives because of violence. Here is what to know.

What is Transgender Day of Remembrance?

Transgender Day of Remembrance is marked every Nov. 20 and began in 1999 to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman who was killed in Massachusetts.

The day marks the end of Transgender Awareness Week, which is used to raise public knowledge about the transgender community and the issues they face.

The Williams Institute at UCLA Law estimates there are more than a million and a half transgender people in the U.S. ages 13 and older. And it says transgender people are over four times more likely than others to be victims of violence.

Candlelight vigils, memorials and other events are held to mark the day. The Human Rights Campaign also released its on deaths of transgender people in conjunction with the day.

, which is designed to bring attention to transgender people, is commemorated in March.

How many transgender people have lost their lives to violence?

At least 36 transgender people have died from violence in the past 12 months since the last Day of Remembrance, the Human Rights Campaign said in its annual report. Since 2013, the organization has recorded the deaths from violence of 372 victims who were transgender and gender-expansive �� which refers to someone with a more flexible range of gender identity or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system.

The number of victims is likely higher because many deaths often aren't reported or are misreported, or misgendering of the victims leads to delays in their identification.

The Human Rights Campaign said there was a slight increase from the previous year, when it identified at least 33 transgender victims of violence.

A large number of the victims tracked over the past year were young or people of color, with Black transgender women making up half of the 36 identified. The youngest victim identified was 14-year-old of Pennsylvania.

Two-thirds of the fatalities involved a firearm, the organization said. Nearly a third of the victims with a known killer were killed by an intimate partner, a friend or a family member.

What is at stake politically?

This year’s remembrance follows an election where advocates say victories by President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican candidates who focused on issues like transgender athletes to trans people’s rights.

It also follows a wave of measures enacted in Republican states this year restricting the rights of transgender people, especially youth.

Half the states have banned gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. The is set to hear arguments next month in a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's ban.

Advocates say the legislation and rhetoric is creating fewer safe spaces for transgender people, and they worry it could spur more violence against trans people.

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