The Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20, 2008) is set aside to remember those lost to anti-transgender violence in the last year.  Much of this violence is fueled by a sentiment that it is tacitly and explicitly reinforced by narrow understandings of gender, as well as outright transphobia and homophobia expressed in the name of a Christian God. Too many of us have not only heard "God condemns you" -- but also "It would be better if you were dead."

It is a profound and important step for every faith community to join in a resounding chorus that condemns all forms of violence against people who are differently gendered. 

• By vocally condemning anti-trans bullying, harassment, and hate crimes, we begin to chip away at the self-righteous fuel that feeds those who believe they are doing God's will by punishing the differently gendered.
• By loudly proclaiming that people of all genders are beloved, we begin to address the rampant rate of depression and suicide among transgender youth and adults that so to often encouraged by religious judgment.
• By reaching out in love to the transgender community, we begin to undermine the isolation and low self-esteem that can undergird substance abuse and high-risk behaviors (which inform high rates of HIV and AIDS).

Beyond the hate and judgment, trans people's lives are at risk because we so often struggle to meet our most fundamental needs such as safe employment and basic health care. Faith communities need to be out in front of such justice issues as well.

So, this year, let us (re)commit ourselves to the work of speaking up and speaking out, to the work of educating ourselves and educating others, to the work of reaching out in love.

Chris Paige
Publisher, TransFaith Online

Followup reading:

• NCTE Health Priorities: www.nctequality.org/HealthPriorities.pdf
• TransFaith InterSections: www.transfaithonline.org/intersections/
• TransFaith - Where do we begin? www.transfaithonline.org/the_basics/where_do_i_begin/

www.nctequality.org/HealthPriorities.pdf

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TRANSFAITH ON-LINE (www.transfaithonline.org) is dedicated to supporting transgender folks in our faith journeys, while providing useful resources to help people of faith become better educated trans-allies.

This TDOR, please remember not only the dead, but also to pause and remember the names and sacred concerns of those cut off from good, decent jobs.

Please use the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) in your community as a way to raise awareness and continue to educate your congregations about Transgender concerns.

Living on the Edge.

Includes sample vigil and worship materials, as well as promotional materials.

Reflecting on the Church's responsibility to speak out against violence against gender variant people (includes a YouTube video outlining a month of anti-trans violence).

A transgender day of remembrance presentation that urges us to consider the way transfolks live and die with complex identities and vulnerabilities.

2006 report documenting a murderous tide of under-reported violence that is claiming the lives of gender non-conforming youth and young adults ages 30 and under, and the dangerous indifference of law enforcement authorities, policy-makers and mainstream media.

SOFFA Victims of Anti-Trans Violence" gives vignettes of eleven SOFFAs who were killed or seriously injured in anti-trans violence. All too often, Transgender Day of Remembrance events have acknowledged only trans victims of transphobia, even though many SOFFAs have also lost their lives due to transphobia. In some cases, SOFFAs were killed along with their trans loved ones but are no longer remembered nearly as well as their trans co-victim, such as Lisa Lambert and Philip DeVine, who were killed along with Brandon Teena. Other SOFFAs, like Pvt. Barry L. Winchell, were targeted specifically because of their connection with a trans person. Available as PDF.

"Keeping Yourself Safe" acknowledges that while victims are never to be blamed for violence against them, there are tactics transgender and SOFFA (Significant Others, Friends, Family and Allies) individuals can use to keep themselves safer. Available as PDF.

2007 column from the founder of the Transgender Day of Remembrace

Rev. Drew Phoenix and Rev. Erin Swenson speak about Transgender Day of Remembrance (YouTube)

A true story of how job discrimination leads to transgender mortality.

The public face of the Day of Remembrance is an important educational tool. ...in the US, one or more transgender individuals a month are murdered. ...nearly all transgender people have experienced bullying, harassment, assault, or sexual violence at some point in our lives.

I was filled with wonder in the way God created us...I know both sexes are God's image...and that what is masculine and feminine, male and female, come from one source which is God.