On Wednesday, the world will honor the memories of transgender people who have lost their lives to acts of anti-transgender violence as a part of Transgender Day of Remembrance.
»MORE: Atlanta to hold vigil for transgender people killed in hate crimes
Since 1999, Nov. 20 has been observed as a day to honor the lives of murdered transgender people. Gwendolyn Ann Smith launched the day when she held a vigil for Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed in 1998. From that initial vigil, dozens of memorials and vigils have now taken place annually, according to GLAAD.
"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." — Gwendolyn Ann Smith
The Human Rights Commission Foundation’s Dismantling a Culture of Violence report sheds light on the
“anti-transgender stigma, denial of opportunity and increased risk factors (that) compound to create a culture of violence.” Through the foundation’s research, it keeps a tally of those transgender people who have reportedly been killed due to anti-transgender violence. The HRC reports there were 26 deaths due to that violence in 2018, and, so far this year, there have been 22.
Dana Martin, 31, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Montgomery, Alabama, on Jan. 6.
Jazzaline Ware, 34, a black transgender woman, was found dead in her Memphis apartment in March. Her death is being investigated as a homicide, according to The Advocate.
Ashanti Carmon, 27, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Prince George's County, Maryland, on March 30.
Claire Legato, 21, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Cleveland on April 15.
Ryan Michalesko/The Dallas Morning News via AP
Ryan Michalesko/The Dallas Morning News via AP
Muhlaysia Booker, 23, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Dallas on May 18.
Michelle 'Tamika' Washington, 40, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Philadelphia on May 19.
Paris Cameron, 20, a black transgender woman, was among three people killed in what was reportedly an anti-LGBTQ shooting in a home in Detroit on May 25, according to local reports.
Chynal Lindsey, 26, a black transgender woman, was found dead in White Rock Lake, Dallas, with signs of "homicidal violence" on June 1, according to police.
Chanel Scurlock, 23, a black transgender woman, was found fatally shot in Lumberton, North Carolina, on June 6.
Zoe Spears, 23, a black transgender woman, was found with signs of trauma near Eastern Avenue in Fairmount Heights, Maryland, and later pronounced dead on June 13, according to local reports.
Brooklyn Lindsey, 32, a black transgender woman, was found dead in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 25, according to local news reports.
Denali Berries Stuckey, 29, a black transgender woman, was found fatally shot in North Charleston, South Carolina, on July 20.
Tracy Single, 22, a black transgender woman, was killed in Houston on July 30.
Bubba Walker, 55, a black transgender woman, was killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, in late July.
Kiki Fantroy, 21, a black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Miami on July 31.
Jordan Cofer, 22, was among the nine victims killed in a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 4.
Via HRC
Via HRC
Pebbles LaDime "Dime" Doe, 24, a black transgender woman, was killed in Allendale County, South Carolina, on Aug. 4.
Bailey Reeves, 17, a black transgender teen, was fatally shot in Baltimore on Sept. 2. She is remembered as "a person who lived her life to the fullest."
Bee Love Slater, 23, was killed in Clewiston, Florida, on Sept. 4. Slater is remembered by loved ones as someone "with a really, really sweet heart" who "never harmed anyone."
Jamagio Jamar Berryman, 30, a black gender non-conforming person, was killed in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 13.
Itali Marlowe, 29, a black transgender woman, was found shot in Houston on Sept. 20.
Brianna "BB" Hill, 30, was fatally shot in Kansas City on Oct. 14, according to the Kansas City Police Facebook page.
Below is a list of resources and organizations devoted to the rights and lives of transgender people:
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