Trans Day of Remembrance

Transgender day of Remembrance takes place on the 20th of November. The day was founded to draw attention to the continued violence directed towards transgender people.

In 1998 a Trans woman and activist was murdered in Allston Massachusetts - her death received very little attention. The following year on November 20th 1999 Trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith and other notable activists held a candle lit vigil to honour all those lost the previous year, becoming the Transgender day of Remembrance. The first Trans Day of Remembrance took place in both Boston and San Francisco.

In 2010 Trans day of Remembrance was observed in over 185 cities throughout more than 20 countries. In 2012 President Obama recognised and publicly honoured Transgender Day of Remembrance.

If you would like to support Trans Day of Remembrance then locally The Inclusive Community Church, Hannington Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6JT will again hold their annual Candlelight Memorial beginning at 6pm. They will take time to remember and honour those who have lost their lives this past year to anti- transgender violence and discrimination.

The candlelight memorial will be held in the Sanctuary of the church. The service will be similar to those of past years with memorial cards for each life lost, time to place candles in their memory and honour, and the reading of their names.

Young people are welcome to attend, with appropriate adult supervision. Keeping in mind the often traumatic details surrounding the deaths of many of those whom we will be remembering.

Written by Rose, a Supernova