Honoring Trans Lives: Why Transgender Day of Remembrance Matters

On November 20 each year, we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) — a deeply meaningful day dedicated to honoring the lives of transgender and gender-expansive people who have been lost to violence, and a time to reflect on the urgent need for justice and change. This isn’t just a symbolic observance: it is a solemn, powerful reminder that transphobic violence is real and ongoing, and that remembering those we’ve lost is a critical part of building a safer, more equitable future.

The origins of Transgender Day of Remembrance trace back to 1999, when Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a trans activist, created a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman who was murdered the year before in Massachusetts. Hester’s death — and the media’s treatment of her — became a catalyst. She was misgendered and deadnamed in press coverage, and this deeply hurt her community. Smith’s “Remembering Our Dead” project grew out of that pain and grief, creating a space to remember trans people lost to violence.  Over time, TDoR has become a unifying day of remembrance observed in communities all over the world. 

This day is not just about mourning — it is also about raising awareness, demanding justice, and strengthening solidarity. Communities gather in candlelight vigils, host public memorials, and read the names of those who have died in the past year.  These gatherings give voice to those we’ve lost, reminding us that each name represents not just a statistic, but a person with friends, family, hopes, and dignity.

But the reason TDoR remains essential is because the epidemic of violence against transgender and gender-expansive people has not ended. According to recent reports, fatal violence continues to disproportionately impact trans individuals — especially Black trans women, who represent a significant portion of these losses.  The statistics are heart-wrenching: in the past year alone, dozens of transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed, deaths that are too often underreported or misrepresented. 

Much of this violence is rooted in systemic bias, misunderstanding, and hatred. The misgendering or deadnaming of victims — even in public records or media reports — further erodes their dignity after death, making remembrance complicated but all the more necessary.  The legacy of Rita Hester is painful but instructive: her death spurred a movement dedicated to ensuring that trans lives are recognized, that their stories are told accurately, and that the world sees the human impact of anti-trans hatred. 

Transgender Day of Remembrance also asks us to examine not just individual tragedies but the broader systems that enable them. Hate-fueled laws, discriminatory rhetoric, and institutional neglect all contribute to a climate where violence against trans people goes unchecked. Reports show that many victims are killed not only by strangers, but by intimate partners or acquaintances, and that firearms are often involved.  On top of that, misreporting and undercounting remain persistent problems, meaning that the real toll is likely higher than official numbers suggest. 

Because of this, TDoR is also a day of commitment — a call to action. Remembering those we’ve lost is only the first step. True honor comes in advocating for change, supporting trans-led organizations, and building communities that uplift rather than erase. Allies can join by educating themselves, participating in vigils, donating to trans advocacy groups, and working to dismantle systems that perpetuate harm. 

It is also a day to celebrate resilience. Despite the violence and injustice, transgender communities remain strong, vibrant, and full of life. The stories of those we’ve lost are reminders of the very real humanity, creativity, and joy that trans people bring to this world.  By remembering together, we honor not just their pain, but also their impact, their love, their presence.

I commit to standing in solidarity with transgender and gender-expansive people. I hold space for grief, but also for resistance. I lift up the importance of visibility, respect, and dignity for all gender identities. On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we remember. We reflect. And we resolve to keep working for a world where no one is lost to hate — and where every trans life is seen, valued, and protected.