Hello, Center Family!
My name is Bliss Vasquez (they/he/elle/friend), Project TRANS Transgender and Nonbinary Services Program Manager, and your E-News guest author. This month is Transgender Awareness Month, and in light of the onslaught of attacks against our transgender and nonbinary community during the recent election campaign, now is the time to stand together in community. Join us for Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 from 5-7pm at The Center Auditorium, where we will honor the beloved transgender and nonbinary community members we’ve lost due to anti-trans violence this year.
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is a solemn occasion observed annually to memorialize the lives of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. It is a day of reflection, mourning, and advocacy, shining a light on the ongoing epidemic of anti-trans violence and the need for greater understanding and acceptance of transgender people.
TDOR began in 1999 as a small, grassroots event organized in response to the brutal murder of Rita Hester, a proudly transgender Black woman from Boston. Rita’s death, like many others, went largely unnoticed by the mainstream media and the investigation into her murder was ultimately inconclusive. TDOR provided a space for transgender people and allies to memorialize Rita and all transgender individuals who had been victims of violence, and to bring attention to the disturbing trend of violence toward the transgender community. TDOR is now held in cities across the world, and it has become an essential day of remembrance not just for those who were killed just for being who they are, but also for transgender people who died due to suicide, neglect, or other circumstances tied to societal transphobia.
As TDOR ceremonies provide a healing memorial space, they also encourage continued advocacy for trans rights and social justice. Transgender individuals, especially transgender women of color, continue to face disproportionately high rates of violence, discrimination, and social marginalization. TDOR helps to raise awareness about the broader issues affecting the transgender community, such as healthcare disparities, discrimination, and legal inequities. In the face of often brutal violence and in today’s inflammatory political environment, TDOR underscores the need for stronger protections, better support systems, and greater visibility for transgender people in all aspects of society.
Join us in these efforts by attending our Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 from 5-7pm at The Center Auditorium. We will honor our local transgender and nonbinary community members we’ve lost by reading their names. The event will also feature musical performances by local trans and nonbinary talent. This event is free and all are welcome! After the event, we invite our 21+ community members to join us for a free post-event social at RICH’S Patio from 8-10 pm, where we can unwind and share in joy with our community. For more information, contact trans@thecentersd.org.
As we observe Transgender Awareness Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance, we are reminded of the unwavering strength and resilience of the transgender community. We hope you’ll join us to honor our trans and nonbinary siblings, memorialize those we’ve lost, and recommit to the pursuit of a safer, more inclusive world.
In community,
Bliss Vasquez (They/He/Elle/Friend)
Project TRANS Transgender and Nonbinary Services Program Manager