This Novemember 20th is Transgender Day of...

This Novemember 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hate and prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence. [tdor.org]

I urge my followers, and the followers of those who may have reblogged this to tint your icon purple on Novemeber 20th in honor and support to those who are transgender and to pay respects to those who have passed because they were simply being who they are. I think too often the T is thought of separate from the LGBT, but in reality we are all equal and we are in this life together, side by side.

(Source: hedlunds)