Today Is Transgender Day Of Remembrance, The Follow Up To Transgender Awareness Week. It Was Founded

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, the follow up to Transgender Awareness Week. It was founded on November 20, 1999 by a trans right group led by Gwendolyn Smith to memorialize trans people such as Rita Hester who lost their lives due to violent transphobia. It has since also expanded to include trans individuals who passed away from being denied proper medical help due to their identity and those who sadly ended their lives due to depression caused by external and internal transphobia. These individuals were living humans who just wanted to be themselves and were denied that right by institutions and society who failed to understand the meaning of being transgender.

Over 23 years have passed and transphobia is still a common issue, especially in this social climate who tends to politicize everything deemed “different”. Despite this problem, society is rapidly changing and becoming more accepting of trans people existing with others. Those who left this world may be gone, but they will never be forgotten. Whether you are trans yourself or a trans ally, be the bright, shining light in spite of all the darkness.