The Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgenderwoman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

“The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”

Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith

Let us gather for this essential work which will move us through lamentation to solidarity and support.

• Greet: creating a truly welcoming environment for all.
• Participate: lighting candles and reading the names of the transgender individuals that were killed this past year due to anti-transgender violence. (Individuals or all ages that express as transgender, gender expansive, and/or gender non-conforming, as well as their intimate family members are sought for this role.)
• Join the Interfaith Choir.
• Sponsor: have your organization’s name added to the program and support this event in a variety of ways.

Questions and offers to participate, volunteer, or sponsor can be directed to Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael at revanya@uumontclair.org