HWS News
20 November 2024 Transgender Day of Remembrance By Sydney Herbruck '25
The LGBTQ+ Resource Center will host a Trans Day of Remembrance in the Seneca Room.
HWS’ annual observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance serves as a powerful reminder of the lives lost to anti-transgender violence and serves as a call for resilience and hope within the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 6-7 p.m. in the Seneca Room.
Established in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith, the international remembrance ceremony began as a vigil for Rita Hester, a transgender woman whose life was tragically taken in 1998. This initial gathering honored all transgender individuals lost to violence and ignited a global tradition that continues each November.
“We’ll honor and remember those we’ve lost due to violence while celebrating the resilience of the trans and LGBTQ+ community,” shares René Guo, Director of Intercultural Programs and Initiatives. Guo will offer the event’s opening remarks. The event, they explain, will emphasize the importance of creating a space that fosters reflection, solidarity and hope.
The observance will include opening statements from the LGBTQ+ Resource Center staff and remarks from Counseling Center representatives, offering attendees information on available resources for confidential support. As part of the ceremony, participants will read aloud the names of transgender individuals who lost their lives in the past year, ensuring that their memory is honored and their stories are shared.
“We will create a space for both mourning and hope,” Guo says, “envisioning a world free from gendered violence and discrimination, where all can live in dignity and safety.”
Join the LGBTQ+ Resource Center on Nov. 20 to reflect, remember and build a future rooted in respect and justice.
