Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), a day set aside to memorialize those who lost their lives simply for being their authentic selves. Transgender people face shocking levels of brutality and violence in this country and around the world.
In 2015, there have been at least 22 murders of transgender people in the United States. Like other hate crimes, these murders tend to be extremely violent acts. The violence that took the lives of these individuals is a product not only of transphobia, but of institutionalized racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia. Of the 22 murders in the US this year, almost all of the victims have been young transgender women of color.
On Saturday November 21, 2015 from 4-6PM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – 67 Church Street Teaneck, they will gather to shine a light on the injustice of transphobic bigotry while celebrating the lives of those who were violently lost this year. The Annual Memorial, Candlelight Vigil and Celebration of Life includes guests speakers Assemblyman Timothy Eustace, Therapist Laura Jacobs, Lois Simmons, Author of the blog: Being Christian and Transsexual: Life on Planet Mercury, Also choreographer Francois Michael And Amaz’n Grace. Refreshments will be served at a reception immediately following. For more information and/or directions, please call (201) 702 – 6189
or visit: www.pathwaystg.org or www.stpaulsteaneck.com.
Transgender Awareness Week provides an opportunity to heighten awareness and understanding of transgender people and the issues faced by their community. Earlier this week GSE partnered with Bergen Community College to facilitate the 2nd Annual Transgender Awareness Day. Aaron Potenza put together and chaired a panel of transgender and gender expansive students who spoke to a standing room only crowd about issues facing the Trans community in higher education. Potenza is is working with the college to build on that momentum and create change for the students.
Last year Bergen Community College established gender-neutral restrooms. This year GSE and activists are pushing for transition related care to be covered by the campus insurance plan, for more courses that address gender identity and expression, for an easier process for changing names and sex markers on student records, and for more faculty and staff training on working with LGBT students.
Other events:
ASBURY PARK – If you are in the Asbury Park area there will be a candlelight vigil at the carousel house on the boardwalk at 7pm. More information at http://www.qspot.org
In Princeton the community will gather on Sunday for a memorial ceremony to remember and honor all those who have been killed as a result of anti-trans bigotry and violence. The event will be held at the PRINCETON– Princeton University Chapel, Murray Dodge Hall, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 on Sunday, November 22 from 1:30 pm to 3 pm. The service is free and open to the public. For off-campus guests, you can find information about parking and campus maps at: http://www.princeton.edu/main/visiting.
Sponsored by Gender Rights Advocacy Association of NJ, Princeton University: LGBT Center, Office of Religious Life, SHARE, and Women*s Center; Montclair State University LGBTQ Center; Rutgers University Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities; Garden State Equality; and HITOPS. For more information contact the LGBT Center at lgbt@princeton.edu or RSVP at www.facebook.com/events/168504350166445.
As the transgender community experiences increasing visibility, the community also will face backlash and increased violence. Reflect on the inequality that allows violence and discrimination to continue to disproportionately affect the most marginalized members of our LGBT community today.
