November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance

[LG]

Later this month the will be the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Since then, the event has grown to encompass memorials in dozens of cities across the world.

For more information see:
http://www.gsanetwork.org/resources/pdf/DayofRemembrance2.pdf
(I don't think I can attach pdf files)

A list of those of transgender victims of hatred.
http://www.rememberingourdead.org
And from the last year alone:
http://www.gender.org/remember/day/who.html

Reading down through the hundreds of names make a depressing read. Looking at the pictures of these young people, persecuted and killed only because they were trying to be who they wanted to be, almost made me cry.

The passion that some members of our society harbor to hurt and destroy what they can't understand makes me angry and sad. It's up to us all, the the girls and the guys, the ones who see things differently to make a change. Remember the 20th of November.





Note to the Mods: I would suggest that this post be made a sticky item. What is HA doing to commemorate the day?

[NYCe]

We have commemorated the Transgender day of rememberance every year for the last 4 years. Each year we do something different but respectful.

[Ecstatic]

Great post, LG. I'm marking my calendar. Not sure what I'll do to commemorate the day. Ideas?

[shemalejunky]

How about remember? sheesh...

[brickcitybrother]

Thanks for the info

[LG]

Is anyone doing anything for Sunday?

What will HA be doing?

[Legend]

Thanks for the heads up man!

[Caleigh]

One of the girls on the www.rememberingourdead.org website was a friend of mine in Toronto. All we can do is honour their memory and try to bring about integration and understanding so that TG/TS will not be thought of as "freaks" etc. anymore.

[chefmike]

Thanks, LG.

[MacShreach]

We have commemorated the Transgender day of rememberance every year for the last 4 years. Each year we do something different but respectful.

Could we maybe sticky this thread for the rest of the day? Just a thought.

[Ecstatic]

Yes, this is the kind of thread which should be sticky at least for the day.

[MacShreach]

Yes, this is the kind of thread which should be sticky at least for the day.

Until which time just everybody bump it. Bump.

[Ecstatic]

bump

[MacShreach]

bumperz

[MacShreach]

badabump

[MacShreach]

props to the mod who did that

[LG]

Looking at Google's news, the coverage so far by the mainstream media looks pretty much non-existent. The Human Rights Campaign, the NY Blade, the Bay Area Indymedia are all gay or trans oriented. Has anyone seen any coverage in the big papers today? Maybe tomorrow.

For news on what's going on and where:
http://www.gender.org/remember/day/where.html

[Ecstatic]

Sun-Sentinel in FL:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pctrans19xnov19,0,6041240.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

Scoop in New Zealand:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0511/S00158.htm

The Arizona Republic:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1120vigil20.html

Des Moines Register:
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051119/NEWS01/511190319/1001&lead=1

I was surprised and disappointed that the Boston Globe carried no mention that I could find.

[LG]

Good links Ecstatic, although the article in the Des Moines register isn't about the Day of Remembrance but on what seems to be yet another hate crime.

Nut what about the really big papers that sell nationwide like the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today or the ones that sell internationally, like the Herald Tribune.

I think their coverage has been minimal or non-existent.

If the media cannot place the matter in the public eye, then what can we do. Contemplating silently or lighting candles helps no one and spreads no message.

[LG]

Just discovered this good site to check out, featuring today's newspapers: http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

I don't think it has a search function though.

[Ecstatic]

Good points, LG. However, while the Des Moines Register article is about a specific case rather than the Day of Rembrance in general, it does mention it:

"Transgender activists in Kansas City said they don't believe Juanda, who appeared to be a happy person, killed herself. Her death will be a focal point of services Sunday during Transgender Day of Remembrance, an event that memorializes transgender people who were killed because of hatred or prejudice."

Which is pretty impressive for a paper from the American heartland. I really expected some mention in the Boston Globe, but they let me down.

[lurker]

I am a coward. And I have no intention of putting my real name on any written communique such as what I am about to recommend. But for those in this forum who do not fear community backlash, here is what you can do...

Write letters. Yes it sounds weak. But, if you write letters to all of the national papers and in each letter to the editor, include the story of a person from the remembrance list who was killed simply for being different from some else's perception of normal. Remind the editor that each of us, in some way, is diferent from what someone perceives as normal. Then do this again. And again. And if you do this, everyday starting from Nov 1, all the way to Nov 20, hopefully your letters will find enough of an ear that at least one would be published. But since it's too late for this year, maybe a few letters covering some of the activities would prepare them for the onslaught of letters next year.

The only way something like this would be publicized is if "normal" people knew there were enough people, or at least some people in their community gave a damn. And to do that, someone must let them know.

But as stated ealier. I am a coward. And I will not be doing this.

[Willie Escalade]

Just bumping this thread as a reminder.