On November 20th, 2024, we observe the 25th anniversary of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR)—a solemn day born out of grief and resilience. Initiated in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman murdered in 1998, this tradition has become a vital moment for trans and gender-expansive communities worldwide to commemorate the siblings lost to violence, bigotry, and systemic neglect.
This year, we mourn the loss of at least 29 transgender and gender-expansive people whose lives were brutally taken.
The numbers are not just statistics—they are a harrowing testament to the intersection of transphobia, interphobia, racism, and intimate violence.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, 48% of those killed were Black transgender women, and 38% were targeted by those closest to them: intimate partners, friends, or family members.
Among those we lost were two lives stolen in the Atlanta metro area:
Shannon Boswell, 30
Righteous TK “Chevy” Hill, 35
Their memories remind us of the beauty, complexity, and humanity of the lives stolen and of the work still ahead to ensure our community’s safety and dignity.
This year’s TDOR is particularly poignant against the backdrop of an election that casts a long shadow over the trans and gender-expansive community. The TGX360 Council acknowledges the heavy anxiety, fear, and uncertainty that so many of us are carrying in this complicated moment. Yet, we also hold space for the unyielding strength and hope that our community continues to embody.
We honor not only those who have been killed but also all our trans and gender-expansive siblings who have died this year, regardless of the cause. Each loss is felt deeply, and each life is irreplaceable.
As we light candles and speak their names, let us also recommit to the fight for a world where trans lives are not only remembered but cherished and protected. Together, we must transform remembrance into action, mourning into movement, and tragedy into a renewed demand for justice.
The TGX360 Initiative stands with you. Always.
-Statement provided by Outreach Committee of the TGX 360 Council
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