Transgender Day of Remembrance #TDOR - November 20

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. You can read more about the Transgender Day of remembrance below, and find out how you can participate.

Additionally, during the week of November 12-20 individuals and organizations around the county will participate Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address the issues these communities face.

What is the Transgender Day of Remembrance?

The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence that year and began an important memorial that has become the annual Transgender Day of Rememberance.

"The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people -- sometimes in the most brutal ways possible -- it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice."
- Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith

How can I participate in the Transgender Day of Remembrance?

Participate in the Transgender Day of Remembrance by attending or organizing a vigil on November 20 to honor all those whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence that year.  Vigils are typically hosted by local transgender advocates or LGBT organizations, and held at community centers, parks, places of worship and other venues. The vigil often involves reading a list of the names of those who died that year. Learn more...

Attend an event

• Check out the full list of events at www.transgenderdor.org. If your event is not listed, please submit it to transgenderdor@gmail.com.

Blog posts and news

• Timeline: A Look Back at the History of Transgender Visibility
• Trans Advocate Ja'Briel Walthour: Honoring Trans Women of Color on TDOR
• Trans People of Color Coalition Founder: Trans People of Color Coalition Founder Kylar Broadus Urges More Equality on TDOR 
• National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs Coordinator Chai Jindsaurat: Transgender Day of Remembrance; Remembring Dee Dee Pearson 
• Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith: Transgender Day of Remembrance: Why We Remember
• GLAAD and many others have shared inspiring stories of transgender people who are making an impact during Transgender Awareness Week. Read them here.
• The Advocate: 13 Transgender Americans Murdered in 2012
• Huffington Post Gay Voices: List of 50 transgender icons
• Huffington Post Gay Voices: Everyday People 
• Huffington Post Gay Voices: Why Centering Race in Transgender Advocacy Is Key to Equality for All
• Transgender Faith Leaders Help Create Welcoming Communities
• Guest Post: Meeting Spiritual Needs on Transgender Day of Rememberance
• Guest Post: Why I Tell My Story: Putting it All on the Line
• Guest Post: Being the Spouse of a Trans Clergy Man

Resources for media/bloggers

• Check out GLAAD's resource kit for journalist covering TDOR
• Check out GLAAD's Media Reference Guide
• Double Victimized: Reporting on Transgender Victims of Crime.

More information

• Find out more about Transgender Day of Remembrance at  www.transgenderdor.org
• See the list of people who died because of anti-transgender violence in 2012
• Learn more about transgender people at GLAAD's resource page
• Learn about Transgender Awareness Week

Spread the word

• RSVP to a local event posted at www.facebook.com/transdayofremembrance
• Tweet about TDOR:

Tweet #TDoR

Today we observe the annual #Transgender Day of Remembrance glaad.org/tdor #TDOR #LGBT instagr.am/p/SQiEdpOcy7/

— GLAAD (@glaad) November 20, 2012