Transgender Day of Remembrance Highlights Increased Violence Amid Political Tensions

Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed annually on November 20, serves as a reminder of the violence faced by the transgender community. The commemoration was initiated in 1999 to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was tragically killed in Massachusetts. The event marks the conclusion of Transgender Awareness Week, aimed at raising awareness about the challenges and issues faced by the transgender community.

The Williams Institute at UCLA Law estimates there are more than 1.5 million transgender people aged 13 and older in the United States. Data suggests transgender individuals are over four times more likely to experience violence than the general population. This year, numerous vigils, memorials, and events are organized across the nation to honor those lost to anti-transgender violence.

The Human Rights Campaign has reported at least 36 transgender individuals have died from violence since the last Remembrance Day. Since 2013, the organization has documented 372 deaths of transgender and gender-expansive individuals due to violence. The number is considered an underestimation due to misreporting, underreporting, and misgendering of victims. An alarming proportion of victims are young, Black transgender women.

Violence against transgender individuals often involves firearms, and nearly a third of known perpetrators are intimate partners, friends, or family members. This year’s remembrance occurs amidst a political climate where advocates point to recent elections and subsequent legislation as threats to transgender rights. President-elect Donald Trump and Republican candidates have focused on issues like transgender athletes, raising concerns about the erosion of trans people’s rights.

States have enacted laws restricting the rights of transgender people, particularly minors, with half the states banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The U.S. legal system is currently grappling with these laws, with the Supreme Court set to review Tennessee’s ban on such medical care. Advocates fear these legal developments may exacerbate violence against transgender individuals.

Tiffany Chenneville, a psychologist, expressed concerns about increased stigma, internalized negative stereotypes, and the mental health impact on the transgender community. «There is a feeling of rejection and a lack of support,» she stated, emphasizing the importance of allyship and support.

Support groups like The Trevor Project and Lambda Legal report increased call volume from concerned transgender individuals seeking advice on securing identification and retaining healthcare access under potential new federal restrictions. Sean Ebony Coleman, founder of Destination Tomorrow, highlighted the bullying and dehumanization catalyzed by political discourse, stressing the importance of community solidarity to ensure safety.