Freedom from Violence, Special Events
Transgender Day of Remembrance.
by Nyomi Guzman on Nov 15, 2018
This Tuesday, November 20th, WREN will be observing Transgender Day of Remembrance. Gwendolyn Ann Smith founded Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1999, as a way to remember trans people whose lives were taken as a result of anti-trans violence in the last year around the world. Trans Day of Remembrance is recognized through a memorial. This includes reading aloud the names of trans people who were killed in the year prior. The reading is sometimes followed by a candlelight vigil, showcasing of art, film or collecting food or donations along with a moment of silence.
WREN believes in the full humanity of all people and encourages everyone to take the time to acknowledge this day. Whether it is on your own, with friends and family, or by attending a memorial we encourage you to take some time out of your day and remember those who have passed and think about how we as a community can do better to support the trans community in SC.
For a list of this year’s names, click here.
Here are a few public memorials happening around our state:
- Charleston: Unitarian Church in Charleston, 4 Archdale Street, November 15, 7pm (check in with Charleston Transgender Day of Remembrance for updates).
- Columbia: Washington Street United Methodist Church, 1401 Washington St, Tuesday, November 20, 7pm (check in with Center for Social Equity for more updates).
- Greenville: Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Tuesday, November 20, 6-7pm (check in with Gender Benders for more updates)
To learn more about and support trans activist work, listen to WREN’s Facebook Live interview with Vanity Deterville.
[Picture captured by CrushRush photography at a Vigil Honoring Sasha Wall and Black Trans Homicide Victims, organized by Director of Center for Social Equity, Nathaniel Naomi Simmons-Thorne.]