​Transgender Day of Remembrance: Transgender Day of Resilience. 

November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day of reflection originated in 1999 as a way to recognize the violence, hatred and prejudice that has been directed at the transgender community, historically and currently. In recent years, some have referred to November 20th as Transgender Day of Resilience to honor the strength, spirit, and perseverance of the transgender community.

The Williams Institute at UCLA estimates 1.6 million people in the U.S. ages 13 and older identify as transgender. Transgender people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent victimization, and
transgender women of color are disproportionately affected by this violence.

At least 28 transgender people have been murdered in the United States this year. It is a tradition on Transgender Day of Remembrance to read the names of the transgender persons killed through violence aloud. We do this to reflect on the humanity and vibrancy of the lives that have been stolen—lives filled with dreams, hopes, and the courage to live as their true selves in the face of overwhelming adversity. Each name represents not just an individual story, but also the broader, ongoing fight for equality and dignity.

The names of those individuals who have been murdered follows.

Please say their names aloud.  

Kitty Monroe

Yella Clark  

Michelle Henry
Sasha Williams  

River Nevaeh Goddard  

Liara Kaylee Tsai 

Africa Parrilla Garcia  

Tex Arnold  

Pauly Likens 
Righteous Torrence “TK” Hill 

Starr Brown  

Kenji Spurgeon 

Reyna Hernandez  

Adrea Doria Dos Passos  

Shannon Boswell 
Diamond Brigman  

Kita Bee  

Monique Brooks 
Alex “Boo” Taylor Franco  

Jazzlyn Johnson  

Dylan Gurley  
Meraxes Medina  

Tayy Dior Thomas  

Tai’Vion Lathan 
Kassim Omar  

Redd 
Honee Daniels  

Santonio Coleman 

The stories and lives of these individuals are described in detail in an article in The Advocate, which can be found at https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-americans-killed-2024

Today is a day to mourn. It is also a day to honor resilience. Despite horrendous injustices, the transgender community continues to fight, thrive, and inspire. Their courage serves as a beacon for us all, urging us to challenge intolerance and to stand up against bigotry, wherever it resides. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “No one is free until we are all free.”   

Every life we honor today is a call to action—a plea to ensure that no more names are added to this list. Together, we can build a future where transgender individuals are celebrated for their contributions, embraced for their authenticity, and cherished as integral members of our global family.