October 31, 2020

Each November 20th, PFLAG joins in honoring the 2020 Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which was inspired by the 1998 murder of Rita Hester. 

From tdor.info:

The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence.

TDOR 2020 honors those who died between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. For that period, 53 lives were taken in the United States (that we know of), and 386 worldwide.

Sadly, many trans lives were taken by violence and self-harm this year. We would be remiss not to mention--though not reflected on the TDOR list--the many trans and nonbinary people we have lost to complications from COVID-19.

The list for 2020 is as follows. We ask that you #saytheirnames:

  1. Corbin Ray Bach, 23, Oct 6th, 2019, Paducah, Kentucky
  2. Christine Zephier, 23, Oct 10th, 2019, Mankato, Minnesota
  3. Daphne Dorman, 44, Oct 11th, 2019, San Francisco, California
  4. Brianna “BB” Hill, 30, Oct 14th, 2019, Kansas City, Missouri
  5. Nikki Kuhnhausen, 17, Dec 7th, 2019, Larch Mountain, Oregon
  6. Angel Rose Garcia, 21, Dec 10th, 2019, Hyattsville, Maryland
  7. Alice Carter ("Baby Alice"), 35, Dec 18th, 2019, Washington, D. C.
  8. Yahira Nesby, 33, Dec 19th, 2019, Brooklyn, New York
  9. Mia Penny, 26, Dec 29th, 2019, Washington, D.C.
  10. Dustin Parker, 25, Jan 1st, 2020, McAlester, Oklahoma
  11. Alex McCray, 22, Jan 4th, 2020, St. Louis, Missouri
  12. Camila María Concepción, 28, Feb 21st, 2020, Los Angeles, California
  13. Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, Feb. 24th, Puerto Rico
  14. Yampi Mendez Arocho, 19, March 5th, 2020, Puerto Rico
  15. John Scott Devore/Scottlyn Kelly Devore, 51, Mar 12th, 2020, Augusta, Georgia
  16. Monica Diamond, 34, Mar 18th, 2020, Charlotte, North Carolina
  17. Lexi "Ebony" Sutton, 33, Mar 28th, 2020, Harlem, New York
  18. Lorena Borjas, 59, Mar 30th, 2020, Queens, New York
  19. Ashley Moore, 26, Apr 1st, 2020, Newark, New Jersey
  20. Henrietta Robinson, 79, Apr 3rd, 2020, Miami, Florida
  21. Johanna Metzger, , Apr 11th, 2020, Baltimore, Maryland
  22. Penelope Diaz Ramirez, April 13th, 2020 Puerto Rico 
  23. Serena Angelique Velazquez Ramos, April 21st, 2020 Puerto Rico
  24. Layla Pelaez Sanchez, 21, April 21st, 2020 Puerto Rico
  25. Nina Pop, 28, May 3rd, 2020, Sikeston, Missouri
  26. Helle Jae O’Regan, 20, May 6th, 2020, San Antonio, Texas
  27. Jayne Thompson, 33, May 9th, 2020, Orchard Mesa, Colorado
  28.  Tony McDade, 38, May 27th, 2020, Tallahassee, Florida
  29. Selena Reyes-Hernandez, 37, May 31st, 2020, Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois
  30. Name Unknown, Age 16 to 20, Jun 6th, 2020, Chicago, Illinois
  31. Riah Milton, 25, Jun 9th, 2020, Liberty Township, Cincinnati, Ohio
  32. Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells, 27, Jun 9th, 2020, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  33. Brian Powers ("Eagle"), Jun 13th, 2020, Akron, Ohio
  34. Brayla Stone, 17, Jun 25th, 2020, Sherwood, Arkansas
  35. Tatiana Hall, 22, Jun 30th, 2020, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  36. Merci Mack Richey, 22, Jun 30th, 2020, Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas
  37. Draya McCarty, 28, Jun 30th, 2020, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  38. Shaki Peters, 32, Jul 1st, 2020, Amite City, Louisiana
  39.  Bree Black, 27, Jul 3rd, 2020, Pompano Beach, Florida
  40. Summer Taylor, 24, Jul 4th, 2020, Seattle, Washington
  41. Angela Martinez Gómez, 42, Jul 6th, 2020, Santa Monica, California
  42. Marilyn Monroe Cazares, 22, Jul 13th, 2020, Brawley, California
  43. Tiffany Harris or ("Dior H Ova"), 32, Jul, 26th, 2020, The Bronx, New York
  44. Queasha Hardy, 24, Jul 27th, 2020, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  45. Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears or ("Rocky Rhone"), 32, Jul 28th, 2020, Portland, Oregon
  46. Kee Sam, 24, Aug 13th, 2020, Lafayette, Louisiana
  47. Shelley Lynn Rose, 16, Aug 26th, 2020
  48. Elie Che, 23, Aug 31st, 2020, The Bronx, New York
  49. Isabella Mia Lofton, 21, Sep 7th, 2020, Brooklyn, New York
  50. Gia Valentina Romualdo Rodríguez, 46, Sep 15th, 2020, Miami, Florida
  51. Aerrion Burnett, 37, Sep 19th, 2020, Independence, Missouri
  52. Mia Green, 29, Sep 28th, 2020, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  53. Michelle “Michellyn” Ramos Vargas, 33, September 30th, 2020, Puerto Rico

As PFLAGers--as human beings--it is imperative that we boldly, loudly, and publicly honor those we have lost to anti-trans violence and hate, and speak out against violence anywhere we see it. Many of our PFLAG chapters will host virtual TDOR events via their PFLAG Connects meeting. Find the chapter nearest you and ask how they are honoring the day.

Simultaneously, as we honor those we have lost, we must use this as an opportunity to strongly recommit to trans inclusion at all levels of our work, providing support to people who are trans and gender expansive and to their families and friends; providing education to those who still lack the understanding necessary to be good allies; and advocating for protections at all levels of government: Local, State, and Federal.

We invite you to join us for a special PFLAG Connects meeting: A virtual vigil in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance. Sign up now to join us on Friday, November 20th at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

By PFLAG National
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