November 19, 2021
November 20: the day when 22 years in the past, the primary Transgender Day of Remembrance was noticed in reminiscence of Rita Hesler, a Black transgender lady who was murdered in her house on November 28, 1998. Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to each memorialize victims of transphobic violence and produce consideration to points transgender people face, whereas highlighting the trans neighborhood’s continued battle for visibility.
This yr, assaults in opposition to transgender or gender nonconforming people have been at an all-time high, with a minimum of 47 folks killed, in response to the Human Rights Marketing campaign. The victims have disproportionately been trans ladies of shade, with Black and Latinx transgender ladies particularly in danger. It’s essential to honor victims of anti-trans violence, and to acknowledge and commemorate the experiences of transgender folks in each the previous and current.
How Can We Rejoice Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals?
In honor of this yr’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, I requested transgender and gender nonconforming teenagers about who has impressed them, impacted their journeys and made them really feel represented. Here’s a listing of who they talked about.
Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson: two transgender ladies and trans rights activists concerned within the 1969 Stonewall Riots.
“It’s vital to do not forget that the best gay motion was began by Black and Latina trans ladies who rose up in opposition to the police and institutional energy,” says Moxuan, 18, of NJ.
@beckettls: a content material creator who makes TikTok and YouTube movies about LBGTQ+ subjects.
“I discovered Beckett’s profile after I don’t assume I used to be even questioning but, and all the data he shared helped me really feel good now,” says Nithan, 17, of CA.
ND Stevenson: an American cartoonist and the creator of Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Energy, who not too long ago got here out as transmasculine.
“Whereas [She-Ra and the Princesses of Power] is a kids’s present, it highlights self-awareness and confidence in being true to your self,” says Evelynn, 17, of NJ.
Candy Darling: a Nineteen Sixties trans icon and actress who labored intently with artist Andy Warhol.
“I got here throughout her from the Velvet Underground’s ‘Sweet Says,’ which has turn into certainly one of my favourite songs,” says Moxuan, 18, of NJ.
Mars Wright: a trans artist and activist, who promotes “the fantastic thing about imperfection and the power of radical honesty” by way of his paintings and social media presence.
“Mars helped as a result of his whole factor is ‘trans pleasure is resistance.’ So now I don’t care if folks understand I’m trans, I’m simply gonna hold doing what I would like,” says Nithan, 17, of CA.
