Honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance
A message from: Lorenley Báez, Associate Provost for Equity & Belonging
Office of Equity and Belonging
Dear Students,
Today, November 20th, we honor Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day originated in 1999 when transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith held a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was murdered in 1998. Since then, the day has become an important tradition to commemorate the transgender lives lost to violence over the years.
As the transgender community continues to seek equitable access to gender-affirming healthcare and faces ongoing attacks on its safety, it is vital that we actively persist in our support and advocacy for transgender people. I encourage us to reflect on the societal structures that have systematically oppressed transgender and nonbinary people. Understanding gender construction in relation to stifling social norms is crucial for our collective liberation. Let us use this day to reaffirm belonging as a democratic value—one that uplifts humanity and champions the right of all people to live freely, joyfully, and authentically.
I look forward to honoring this important day with you.