Today Marks Trans Day of Remembrance

Showing up for the trans communities needs to happen every day

Today – on Trans Day of Remembrance – we honor the lives of transgender people who have died in 2020. The lives below were lost to violence this year, including violence at the hands of police, according to the ACLU.

Aerrion Burnett
Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears
Alexa Neulisa Luciano Ruiz
Angel Haynes
Ashley Moore
Brayla Stone
Bree “Nuk” Black
Brian “Egypt” Powers
Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells
Draya McCarty
Dustin Parker
Felycya Harris
Helle Jae O’Regan
Jayne Thompson
Johanna Metzger
Kee Sam
Layla Pelaez Sánchez
Lexi
Marilyn Cazares
Merci Mack
Mia Green
Michellyn Ramos Vargas
Monika Diamond
Nina Pop
Penélope Díaz Ramírez
Queasha D. Hardy
Riah Milton
Sara Blackwood
Selena Reyes Hernandez
Serena Angelique Velázquez Ramos
Shaki Peters
Summer Taylor
Tatiana Hall
Tiffany Harris
Tony McDade
Yampi Méndez Arocho
Yunieski Carey Herrera

2020 has  seen at least 37 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The HRC says at least because too often these stories go unreported — or misreported. Since HRC began tracking this data in 2013, advocates have never seen such a high number at this point in the year.

These victims, like all of us, are loving partners, parents, family members, friends and community members. They worked, went to school and attended houses of worship. They were real people — people who did not deserve to have their lives taken from them.

And while it is important to lift these names up, we also must do more, according to the ACLU. Showing up for our trans communities needs to happen every day, not just today.

That means always supporting and affirming the trans and non-binary people in our lives, demanding resources, access, and safety for trans people regularly, and working towards liberation year-round with trans-led organizations and trans people in our communities.

There are an estimated 27,000 transgender people in the Inland Empire.

We are fighting for a world where trans people and non-binary people belong, the SCLU says. Where transgender people – especially Black trans women – do not have to fear violence or death. Where all transgender people can thrive.

Butterflies are the spiritual symbol of transgender people.

We all have the right to live openly and authentically and have a right to self-determination.

If you want to know more – and do more – please read here.