Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today marks Transgender Day of Remembrance which was established in 1999 as a memorial for Rita Hester who had been murdered the year before. This day is set aside to memorialise those who have been killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice (transphobia). Since it was first observed the event has grown to encompass hundreds of cities around the world.

Rita Hester

I have only just been made aware of this memorial day, thanks to Wikipedia. I was horrified when I checked out the official website for this event and discovered approximately 30 known anti-transgender murder victims SINCE NOVEMBER 2004!!!! That's just the KNOWN ones.

Please can we all make an effort to make this kind of prejudice a thing of the past. Lets aim to make this something just for the history book by the time The Decade comes around.

Here in London there will be an event at 15:00 in the chapel of Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, which is just a 5-minute walk from Bethnal Green tube station. The chapel is on the third floor and the building has disabled access. There will be music and readings and time for quiet reflection.