Share

• Email
• Facebook
• digg
• del.icio.us
• Newsvine

Share by Email

Email addresses will be used to only email the page on your behalf and will not be collected.

Your name:

*

Your email:

*

Recipient's email:

*

Separate multiple email addresses with commas or semicolons.

Personal message:

Please send me a copy

Unable to load the reCAPTCHA image. The public key (6Le9DQUAAAAAABo38mTPFXX-q7-uZaFUJG0yPm2B) might be invalid for this domain.

reCAPTCHA^TM

Type the two words: Type the eight numbers:

*

Get a new challenge  |  Get an audio challenge Get a visual challenge

Introduction

The Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors the memory of those murdered because of anti-transgender prejudice, is recognized annually on November 20. GLAAD encourages journalists to mark the occasion with stories about the pervasive problem of hate crimes against transgender people, as well as the diversity and resilience of the community in the face of harassment and violence. Local observances may vary, so be sure to check with a local LGBT Center, Gay-Straight Alliance or other support group likely to be participating.

Background

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed in late November in recognition of the 1998 murder of Rita Hester. Rita was a highly visible member of the transgender community in her native Boston, where she worked locally on education around transgender issues. On Saturday, Nov 28, Rita was stabbed 20 times in her apartment. A neighbor called the police and Rita was rushed to the hospital, but passed away from cardiac arrest only moments after being admitted. Ten years later, Rita’s murderer (or murderers) has still not been found.
In 1999, one year after Rita’s murder, advocate and writer Gwendolyn Ann Smith coordinated a vigil in Rita’s honor. The vigil commemorated not only Rita, but also all the transgender people lost to violence and hatred.

In addition to the vigil, Smith launched the Transgender Day of Remembrance website to recognize those whose lives have been lost to anti-transgender violence. The number of dead honored on the site has since grown to more than 280 people. Organizations throughout the world — from Groupe Activiste Trans in Paris to Human Rights Commission of Tel Aviv in Israel to Diritti in Movimiento in Pescara, Italy — have since taken to recognizing the day. Media coverage of Transgender Day of Remembrance events often includes documenting lives lost to hate crimes, as well as the routine harassment, discrimination and violence that members of the transgender community encounter on a regular basis.

Use the navigation to the right to explore GLAAD's Transgender Day of Remembrance Resource Kit.