22. I remember my first year observing Trans Day of Remembrance. There was a vigil being held – everyone was around, heads on shoulders, arms wrapped around one another. We were crying, mourning the death of our siblings who were unjustly taken from us. Their names were read aloud as a candle was lit to represent each one, and I remember thinking, this isn’t even all of them. This is just those killed in America that we know about. So many times, we learn about them after they have been dead-named [1] through the media, another form of trans-erasure. Back then, I didn’t know all that I know now. I didn’t realize all that I know now, and I felt hopeless.
22. I think for most of us, these days, we feel helpless and hopeless. We keep fighting for our right to survive, to work, to get an education, to have good healthcare, to have a place to lay our heads, and to be able to have our basic needs met. Every day we fight and every day we see little change. We have our existence attacked by our own country, our own President. So we push back, and we fight.
22. Twenty-two transgender individuals have lost their lives in the United States this year. That is only our country, and that is only the people we know about. We know there are more, even if we wish there weren’t. Yet every year we read off more and more names of our siblings who are taken way before their time. With this, fear grows, but also resilience.
22. Our community is strong and diverse. We have people from all walks of life, varying disabilities, religions, and ages. We have been on this earth forever, and we continue to be here because we are resilient, resourceful, and full of life. As we mourn those who have past, and remember their life, let’s also remember our history. Remember where we come from, and continue the fight of those who fought before us.
Dear allies, remember those of us who have passed, and stand with those of us who are here, while we are alive! Let's fight to end discrimination in the state of Ohio, this country, and the world so that one day our tragic deaths and murders are not common.
For resources and other information visit: acluohio.org/trans
Helplines:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Hours: 24/7
Telephone: 800.799.SAFE (7233)
National Sexual Assault Hotline
800.656.HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line
Hours: 24/7
741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800.273.TALK (8255)
Trans Lifeline
877.565.8860
The Trevor Project
Hours: 24/7
Telephone: 866.488.7386
Contact your legislators and other state officials to urge them to support statewide non-discrimination policies. Find your legislator and send them a message today.
[1] To dead-name someone is to use a name that the person no longer uses or goes by. (source)
