November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, an observance to honor and grieve the folks who have been murdered by trans-antagonistic violence. At the time of this writing, this year’s official list from International Transgender Day of Remembrance has eighty-three entries. That list only represents the victims of violence that was specifically trans-antagonistic in nature, it does not include murders resulting from intimate partner or family violence nor does it include cases in which a trans-antagonistic motive has not been ascertained. It also does not include suicides—often the result of the psychological and emotional violence done to trans folks by a trans-antagonistic world.

According to a 2013 report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, our trans friends, family, and neighbors have long since been at a greater risk of deadly violence, particularly transwomen of color. Trans members of our communities are disproportionately at risk of police violence and intimidation. Transwomen are nearly twice as likely, compared to other survivors, to experience sexual violence. And, so often, this very specific kind of violence is overlooked, even when a perpetrator is identified; it is only in the last three years that there has been a concerted push to end the use of gay and trans panic defenses. Given our current political climate, the level of risk facing trans folks is, if anything, rapidly growing and there is a mounting, palpable fear among trans people and us who love them.

So, before I get to the names that we need to hold in our hearts, I want to direct your attention to a few places that could really use your help. If you can, I urge you to donate to or, where possible, volunteer with these organizations; if you can’t, I hope that you will spread the information far and wide.

  • Trans Lifeline is primarily for immediate support of trans folks in immediate crisis and is geared toward preventing self-harm and suicide. The “hotline is staffed by the true experts on transgender experience”: trans-identified people. Donate here.
  • Trans United Fund is a 501(c)(4) (social welfare) organization that distributes funds to organizations that “demonstrate a strong and proactive commitment to tackling issues like HIV/AIDS, immigration, violence, unemployment, and healthcare disparities, which disproportionately impact trans and gender expansive communities.” One of the organizations they have partnered with is the Trans Relief Project, which is doing the desperately needed work of providing monetary assistance to trans folks to help cover the administration fees of obtaining identification documents, particularly passports. Donate here.
  • Transgender Law Center is an organization that advocates for changes in public policy and laws “so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.” They also, through their hotline, provide legal information regarding laws that impact trans folks, including those around employment, identification, civil rights, and family law. Donate here.
  • S. You Are Loved collects and posts letters of support and acceptance as a direct counter to all of the messages of hate often aimed at the trans community. Write a letter (or several letters) and email it to psyal168@gmail.com and then share the Facebook page often and widely.
  • And, as always, search for organizations in your area that are working to support the trans community and find out what you can do to help support their work.

I want so much for this list to grow shorter every year until there is no reason to compile a list at all. Please consider finding whatever ways you can to pitch in toward that effort.

If you are a person who prays, I hope that you will lift these names up and commend their spirits (and the spirits of those whose names do not appear on this list) to peaceful rest. If you are like me, someone who does not pray, I hope that you will join me in honoring these people and commending their energy (and that of those whose names do not appear on this list) to the universe.

J.W. da Silva – 24 years old – Paudalho, Brazil
Julia Sofia – 20 years old – Nazaré, Bahia, Brazil
Yasmin Montoy – 20 years old – São Paulo, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Sorocaba, Brazil
W.R. Alexandre – Baixada Fluminense, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
Rafael Silva – 17 years old – Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Chaiene da Silva – Paudalho, Pernambuco, Brazil
Larissa – 31 years old – São Paulo, Brazil
H.J. Silva – 37 years old – Sítio do Quinto, Bahia, Brazil
Pâmela Pereira – 16 years old – Conceição do Jacuípe, Bahia, Brazil
Unidentified woman – 24 years old – Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Taina W.P. Alencar – 22 years old – Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
Hilda A.J. da Silva – 46 years old – Aliança, Pernambuco, Brazil
Bruniele – São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil
Erika W.P. de Arruda – 30 years old – Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Brenda – Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
Tiffany Rodrigues – 23 years old – Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
Thiemy Oliveira – 24 years old – Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
Adriane Bonek – 43 years old – São Pedro da Aldeia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sabrina E.D. Sales – 25 years old – Luís Eduardo Magalhães, Bahia, Brazil
Unidentified woman – João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
Edymara M. Leão – 36 years old – Lago Norte, Brazil
Nickolle Rocha – 19 years old – Cachoeira do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Pandora Pereira – 26 years old – São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil
Daiane Brasil – 26 years old – Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Julia Almeida – 28 years old – Ituverava, São Paulo, Brazil
Danielly Barby – 24 years old – Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
Sheila Santos – Calabar, Bahia, Brazil
Lorran Lorang – 19 years old – Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Gabriel Figueira de Lima – 21 years old – Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Paula – Goiandira, Goiás, Brazil
Lauandersa – Genipabu, Caucaia, Brazil
Ana Hickmann – 30 years old – Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil
Michele de Souza – 22 years old – São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
Leticia Silva – 22 years old – Belém, Pará, Brazil
Alana da Silva Pessoa – 22 years old – João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
Jéssica L.C. Menezes – 24 years old – Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Luana Biersack – 14 years old – Novo Itacolomi, Paraná, Brazil
Amanda Araujo – 17 years old – Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil
Bianca Abravanel – 25 years old – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
Andinho – Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
Gabriela Rodrigues – Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
Keyti – 42 years old – Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil
D.S. Barros – 21 years old – Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
M. Moreira – 16 years old – Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Camilla Rios – 32 years old – Jacarepagua, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Brazil
Mika P. da Silva – Macau, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
María la del Barrio – Manaus, Brazil
V. – João Pessoa, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Gravatai, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Natascha – 37 years old – Tarumã, São Paulo, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Carapicuiba, São Paulo, Brazil
Malu – 30 years old – Maracanaú, Ceará, Brazil
Fabiane Hilario – 20 years old – Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Dani – 20 years old – São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
Bruna Souza – 23 years old – Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil
Ketelen Alves – 23 years old – Manaus, Brazil
Giovana Atanazio – 20 years old – São José dos Campos, Brazil
Unidentified woman – Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Thiago Fernando Batista – 30 years old – Rome, Italy
Paulett Gonzalez – 24 years old – Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico
Alisha – 23 years old – Parda Bagh, Faqirbabad, Pakistan
Raina Aliev – 25 years old – Dagestan, Russia
Lorena Reyes – 32 years old – Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Amphon Kongson – 28 years old – Pattaya, Thailand
Hande Kader – 24 years old – Istanbul, Turkey
Monica Loera – 43 years old – Austin, Texas, USA
Jasmine Sierra – 52 years old – Bakersfield, California, USA
Maya Young – 25 years old – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Kendarie/Kandicee Johnson – 16 years old – Burlington, Iowa, USA
Keyonna Blakeney – 22 years old – Rockville, Maryland, USA
Tyreece “Reecey” Walker – 32 years old – Wichita, Kansas, USA
Mercedes Successful – 32 years old – Haines City, Florida, USA
Amos Beede – 38 years old – Burlington, Vermont, USA
Devin “Goddess” Diamond – 22 years old – New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Deeniquia Dodds – 22 years old – Washington, D.C., USA
Dee Whigham – 36 years old – St. Martin, Mississippi, USA
Erykah Tijerina – 36 years old – El Paso, Texas, USA
Rae’lynn Thomas – 28 years old – Columbus, Ohio, USA
T.T. Saffore – 26 years old – Chicago, Illinois, USA
Crystal Edmonds – 32 years old – Baltimore, Maryland. USA

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May they all rest in peace and in power and, most of all, in love.

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