November 20th is a solemn day for the transgender community. On this day, we remember those in our community lost to violence. The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was founded in 1999. It was a memorial to the murders of two Black trans women, Rita Hester and Chanelle Picket. Today is the 25th annual observation of TDOR.
Worldwide, 427 trans people are on this year’s list. Those are just the ones we know about. Many die unrecognized. Dead named by police and family. Remember them. Say the names of those who were known. You’ll find the list at the TDOR Info website. 335 of those people died by violence. The rest were various causes, including medical neglect and suicide. You can see the list by country and category at that link.
The world is sinking ever deeper into bigotry, hatred, and fascism. This is especially true for the United States. I anticipate even higher numbers of my siblings being on future lists. This day reminds us that we must continue to fight for freedom to live our lives as we choose. And to honor those who came before us, for they led the way on the path.
You are no doubt aware of Pride celebrations each June. Perhaps you are not aware of the history of Pride. Pride began as a riot against police oppression, at a bar called the Stonewall Inn located in Greenwich Village. Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman and drag queen, was a prominent figure in that riot. It was from that humble beginning that the Gay Pride movement began.
The journey continues, reverently.
An Aging Trans Woman 
💯💐🕊
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