Transgender Day of Remembrance
GLAAD and Marist host a vigil to victims of transphobic violence and discrimination
The room is quiet, but not silent. Both the signature rainbow flag that represents LGBTQ pride, as well as the transgender flag, are spotted. Small candles are glowing around the room. Those in the room are sporting heart stickers, with the transgender and rainbow flag patterns, as well as black and brown stripes to symbolically include people of color.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Marist observed Transgender Day of Remembrance during a vigil with support from GLAAD. The tradition of Transgender Day of Remembrance started 20 years ago in 1999, by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor another transgender woman, Rita Hester, who was killed the previous year.
GLAAD also hosts an online vigil, in addition to live ones across the country.
After everyone settled down, the vigil started with a moment of silence for those the transgender community has lost. When the moment of silence passes, famous figures in transgender history were remembered. One of them was Marsha P. Johnson.
Johnson was a black transgender woman; she played a critical role in the Stonewall uprising and fought for gay rights in the United States. Having been arrested herself, Johnson also urged systematic change, challenging racism in the prison system and transphobia in the medical and industrial sectors.
One way presenters expressed themselves was through poetry. Some people spoke of personal experiences concerning gender dysphoria, a term to describe the distress transgender people often experience when they realize the gender they identify with is at odds with the gender assigned to them at birth.
Other presenters spoke about race, and how important it was to be racially inclusive — not only in transgender discussions — but for the whole LGBTQ community.
The black and brown stripes on the event’s LGBTQ themed sticker is a reminder that like many groups, the LGBTQ community is intersectional. It was noted that even within the LGBTQ community, this affects how people are treated.
Allies also spoke, including partners and friends of those who had transitioned or were in the process of transition.
Later, a list of transgender victims of violence and discrimination was read. The list included people from the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Transgender people, specifically transgender women, are victims of hate crimes. The culprits include both partners and strangers. They also face bias-harassment from law enforcement. This includes physical, sexual assault and unequal service.
Beyond casualties, though, there are other ways transgender people are discriminated against. According to the Human Rights Campaign, they lack legal protection; transgender civilians have only recently been taken under the pre-existing non-discrimination protections provided by the Department of Education and Equal Opportunity Commission.
Still, explicit gender identity non-discrimination laws are yet to come.
Lacking legal protections leaves transgender people more vulnerable to poverty, which tends to be worse for people of color. They are also subject to harrassment and stigma, as well as health care discrimination, according to thetaskforce.org.
The struggle to have their identities accepted is not a mild grievance. Aside from indignities and dangers, having proper identity documents is essential for countless services.
Some states require medical procedures as proof, which is not possible for every transgender individual — it’s expensive to get the documents updated. Even among those who have already transitioned, 33 percent cannot update their documents to match their gender identity, according to LGBTmap.org.
Marist’s Transgender Day of Remembrance at Marist was a time for transgender individuals and their allies to mourn those they’ve lost.
They are not alone. Across the nation, and across the world, there are people coming together to build a better world for these people and others.
And what is happening at Marist?
There are gender-inclusive bathrooms in: Donnelly, lower level; Fusco Music Hall, third floor; buildings A, B, C, D; the lobby areas in Leo and Marian halls; Sheahan’s ground floor.
Some resources that may be of interest to Marist students include the LGBTQ+ Sub-Committee of Diversity Council, can be contacted at allynetwork@marist.edu. They are working for support and acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people on campus.
FoxPride is the LGBTQ student activist group at Marist. It should also be noted that the LGBTQ community is included in cultural affairs. The Center for Multicultural Affairs has resources available pertaining to LGBTQ topics.
Other resources are available on campus, in the Hudson Valley, and remotely through online platforms. For additional information, refer to the LGBTQ+ Community page at the Marist website.
Cover photo: PxHere