Statistics: about 81 transgender people were beaten and murdered around the world this year. This is the number of the victims whose deaths were reported. But there are some deaths that remained unreported.
Today it is the 16th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. The first remembrance event was organized by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in Allston, Massachusetts to commemorate a trans woman of color, Rita Hester, who was killed in 1998.
Every year the number of trans people murders grows extremely rapid worldwide. People need this day to remember the countless lives lost around the world due to transphobic violence. This event gives other trans people, allies or relatives the chance to mourn their dead mates.
Among the trans people killed this year, a large majority were transsexual women of color. It must be noted that not only trans-females become victims of acts of violence. Trans males suffer harassment and meet death as well. The main murderer is the global society that tries to make these people follow gender standards.
These transgender people, who have become the hostages of the situation and lost their lives, were somebody’s sweetheart, beloved member of the family, somebody’s best friend, members of trans communities and supporters of all transgender people who suffer from harassment all over the world. They were ordinary humans who faced and suffered from attackers’ fists, kicks and weapons. Some of these trans victims were killed by partners, some – by strangers in the streets, but there were even cases when trans children were slayed by parents who were intolerant with them.
If we have a look at the list of trans people who were killed below, we will see that the fatal transphobic violence thrives in the United States and Brazil.
So let’s mourn now those trans people whose names got into these lists.
Let’s memorialize all those familiar and non familiar names of people who had happy but short lives, who loved and were loved and who dreamed about recognition and support.
