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According to a report from the Human Rights Campaign in collaboration with the Trans People of Color Coalition, at least 25 trans people in the U.S. have been killed this year, which is the highest annual total on record.
On November 20, CASSIUS is taking the time to observe Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), an annual observance that honors the lives lost in acts of anti-trans violence. According to GLAAD, Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith who held space for a vigil honoring the memory of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman who was killed the previous year.
Allyship begins with education. One of the most important things you can do to honor the trans people who have been killed is to read up on the issues that impact the community. Here are five places to start:
GLAAD’s Glossary of Terms for Transgender Identity
Why You Should Read It: One of the biggest obstacles to allyship is lack of language. This resource shows how you can begin the conversation on the definitions of sex versus gender identity, which terms are outdated or offensive, and information on trans people’s names and pronoun usage.
“Honoring Trans Lives Taken in 2017″ by Mathew Rodriguez
Why You Should Read It: This piece puts faces and stories to the names of trans folks who were killed this year.
“6 Ways Cis Folks Can Actually Help on Trans Day of Remembrance” by Meredith Talusan
Why You Should Read It: This article was written by a trans woman of color to outline how cisgender people can help advance their allyship in six simple steps.
“Trans Women’s Deaths Are Not A Joke” by Raquel Willis
Why You Should Read It: This piece by a Black trans woman critiques the way that Black media trivializes and perpetuates violence against transgender people.
“Brother to Brother: We Need to Change the Way We Talk About Trans Women” by Marlon Peterson
Why You Should Read It: In case you have trouble relating to trans issues or LGBTQ+ issues at large, this post by a straight, cis Black man might put things in perspective for when you’re talking about the issue with your boys.