Transgender Day of Remembrance at the UU on Nov 20

The first Transgender Day of Remembrance was held in 1998 when Gwendolyn Ann Smith organized a memorial vigil for Rita Harter, a trans woman who was murdered. Since then, communities have come together to honor those who have been lost and to advocate for a world where transgender and non-binary people are no longer targets for violence and hate.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) reported that as of November 2024, they identified the death of at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people through fatal violence in the US. HRC also reported 36 deaths for the 12 months between Transgender Day of Remembrance 2023 and 2024, which indicates 30 deaths that occurred in the year 2024.

These numbers are likely an undercount due to the misgendering and deadnaming of victims by law enforcement and media, or cases that go underreported.

TransFamily of NWPA will remember those who passed away this year on Thursday, November 20, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of  Erie, 7180 Perry Hwy, at 7 PM. The community is welcome to join for the ceremony, and light refreshments will follow.

About the Author

Rex Apps Rex Apps (he/him) began his involvement with the newsletter by volunteering at the monthly folding/distribution parties. This then led him to contribute to the publication with writing and photos. Rex has previously served as an officer with the NW PA Pride Alliance from 2021 to 2024. He studied English at Gannon