Community Honors Trans People Who Lost Their Lives to Violence
Transgender people, especially women of color, experience some of the highest rates of hate crimes in the United States, and many lose their lives to violence each year.
The Day of Remembrance was first started to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman in Boston, Massachusetts, who was killed in her own apartment.
Now, every November 20th, communities come together to remember the lives lost, and to raise awareness of the discrimination that Trans people face on a daily basis.
Transgender people, especially trans women, are more likely to experience higher rates of physical and sexual violence, and harassment and discrimination compared to non-transgender people.
“All human beings are worthy of being treated with the same respect. Today it is transgender people specifically,” said Joe Lindgren, an Advocate for transgender Rights.
And it’s not just adults that are affected. Statistics from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network show that in schools more than 30 percent of transgender students report being physically harassed.
