Women and Gender Initiatives and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance held a vigil to recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Elijah Walker, the pastor at Solomon’s Porch and a transgender man, opened with a prayer and a reflection. Walker spoke of seeing a murdered trans woman on the news be referred to as “a man in a dress,” and how the only trans media representation there used to be was reports of trans people being murdered. He went on to talk about how there are people out there that simply don’t want transgender individuals to exist, and the heavy weight and trauma that the trans community carries.
At the end of the vigil, Elijah Walker is putting away the paper with his speech on it. Walker’s speech moved some to tears.
Following Walker’s reflection, Bo Hendrix, the Women and Gender Initiatives program coordinator, encouraged attendees to light their candles while the names of trans individuals that we have lost in the past year were read off.
Each attendee received a heart with a name on it at the door. Once Hendrix read the name, the individual with that heart took it to the front. An art piece painted by Wren Garret, secretary of the GSA, was displayed at the front of the room. Alfonso Ramirez, historian of the GSA, attached the hearts to the painting as they were brought up.
Alfonso Ramirez attached hearts with the names of trans individuals lost in the past year to the painting done by Wren Garrett.
The event ended with a moment of silence and a dismissal. After, the attendees ate snacks that were available and mingled to lighten the heavy mood.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day recognizing the trans lives that have been lost to transphobic violence or suicide. So far in 2019, around 22 trans individuals have been killed in the U.S.
A list of transgender individuals killed in 2019, from the Human Rights Campaign
- Dana Martin, 31; Montgomery, Alabama
- Jazzaline Ware, 34; Memphis, Tennessee
- Ashanti Carmon, 27; Prince George’s County, Maryland
- Claire Legato, 21; Cleveland
- Muhlaysia Booker, 23; Dallas
- Michelle “Tamika” Washington, 40; Philadelphia
- Paris Cameron, 20; Detroit
- Chynal Lindsey, 26; White Rock Lake, Dallas
- Chanel Scurlock, 23; Lumberton, North Carolina
- Zoe Spears, 23; Fairmount Heights, Maryland
- Brooklyn Lindsey, 32; Kansas City, Missouri
- Denali Berries Stuckey, 29; North Charleston, South Carolina
- Tracy Single, 22; Houston
- Bubba Walker, 55; Charlotte, North Carolina
- Kiki Fantroy, 21; Miami
- Jordan Cofer, 22; Dayton, Ohio
- Pebbles LaDime “Dime” Doe, 24; Allendale County, South Carolina
- Bailey Reeves, 17; Baltimore
- Bee Love Slater, 23; Clewiston, Florida
- Jamagio Jamar Berryman, 30; Kansas City, Kansas
- Itali Marlowe, 29; Houston
- Brianna “BB” Hill, 30; Kansas City, Missouri
The painting Wren Garrett made for the vigil was covered with the names of trans individuals lost in 2019. Uncovered, the painting featured hands with their fingers entwined and the text, “WE REMEMBER” and “Transgender Day of Remembrance.” Below the painting, a paper lists the individuals whose names are on the hearts.
Everyone at the vigil received an agenda with this list of names on the back.
Categories: #Life
THE HERALD 
Leave a Reply