25th anniversary: trans day of remembrance (TDOR)
Reflecting on 25 Years of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR)
November 20th, 2024, marks the 25th anniversary of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), a day to honor the lives of transgender and gender-expansive individuals lost to different forms of violence. This year, TDOR is especially urgent. The ACLU has tracked 558 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the United States in 2024 alone, the majority of which specifically target trans and gender-expansive people. As we remember those we’ve lost, we are reminded that the fight for trans rights, safety and liberation is far from over. TDOR is not just a day of remembrance—it’s a call to action to confront violence (and its justifications) in all its forms, whether physical, legislative, cultural or societal.
1) a time to Honor Those Lost to Anti-Trans Violence
TDOR is a moment to honor the lives lost to anti-trans violence. Yes, this includes physical violence, but also the broader systemic violence that trans and gender-expansive people face, such as discrimination, marginalization, and erasure through discriminatory legislation, miseducation and hateful rhetoric . TDOR is a day to pause, reflect, and to honor those who are no longer with us, —AND to disrupt the VERY real threats trans and gender expansive communities face every day.
2) Founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a Vigil to Honor Black Trans Women
In 1999, TDOR was founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith following the brutal murders of two Black trans femmes, Rita Hester and Chanelle Pickett. This vigil was not only a moment of mourning, but a declaration that trans lives matter and are deserving of care, compassion and safety. Gwendolyn has often said that when people are trying to erase trans people—sometimes in the most brutal and dehumanizing ways—it is our responsibility to remember them. TDOR continues to carry this message forward, reminding us that visibility and remembrance are acts of resistance.
3) Interrupting Anti-Trans Violence Means More Than Just Addressing Physical Harm
While TDOR centers on remembering those who have been lost to violent acts, it's crucial to think critically about how we, especially those with cis-identities, can address the many forms and iterations of anti-trans violence. Yes, interrupting physical violence is essential, but anti-trans harm is also carried out through our everyday policies, education and rhetoric. Pushing back against bans on LGBTQ+ studies, saying "yes" to trans-affirming sex education, and advocating for access to gender-affirming healthcare are all acts of resistance against anti-trans state sanctioned violence. Each of us has a responsibility in ensuring that anti-trans rhetoric, laws, and attitudes do not go unchecked; because our trans fam deserve to thrive in their bodies, relationships and communities.
4) The Statistics Are Alarming
According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the impact of anti-trans violence is disproportionately felt by Black and Brown trans communities. In 2024, statistics showed that 77% of the victims were people of color, with 53% of them being Black trans women. 60% were killed by a gun, and 40% were misgendered or deadnamed by authorities and the press. In addition, 39% were killed by someone they knew—whether a romantic or sexual partner, a friend, or even a family member. These statistics are both devastating and emphasize the need for dismantling and interrupting all forms of transmisia and anti-trans violence—every.single.time.
5) Trans and Gender-Expansive Communities Have Rich, Celebrated Histories and Legacies
While TDOR is a a day of mourning, it’s also important to recognize that trans and gender-expansive people have always existed and in fact, were celebrated and revered in many cultures and communities. Trans and gender expansive communities offer a rich and deep history rooted in care, resilience and expansion. From the Muxes in Mexico to the Enarei in parts of Central Asia to the Chibados in Angola to the Mahu in Hawaii—trans communities have always been at the forefront of pushing for safety, equity and justice. As we mourn those lost, we must also remember to give folks their flowers while they are here.
TDOR serves as both a reminder and a rallying cry. As we remember those lost to anti-trans violence, including Marsha P. Johnson and Rita Hester, we must also commit to disrupting ongoing acts violence often perpetuated and/or justified through miseducation, discriminatory laws, and misinformed rhetoric. This includes supporting gender-affirming healthcare, advocating for trans-affirming education, and ensuring that trans voices are centered in all movements for justice.
To my trans fam and neighbors, I love you. Through and through.
To all of us, no one is free, until all of us are free.
