Transgender day of remembrance

[Brenda]

So Glad you brought up this subject, it is celebrated yearly in Levenworth in America at the famous wall. They celebrate both those who died after the wars and before transitioning, and those who transitioned and were killed for their beliefs.
This event has been happening for the past 20 years, and over 1000 people attend each time

[Anonymous]

just a little something to stop and have a think about – maybe we need to think about it lots more – and also to remember that death is the ultimate in transphobia – there are lots of little (and not so little) deaths in between that and acceptance, but neverhteless, still constitute transphobia.

support the cause! don’t let hate and fear stop us from living our lives openly and freely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn3PK_rA9Eg&feature=player_embedded

[Brenda]

After watching various Youtube videos, I plan to hold a Transgender Rememberance candlelight service at The Yandina Anglican Church, 3 Farrell St Yandina, Qld, on the 20th November 2010 at 6:30 pm,

Any names and details of our brothers and sisters warmly welcomed. ( our dear sister Pip will be formally remembered)

Everone are cordially invited.

[bee]

“The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco [USA] candlelight vigil in 1999. Since then, the event has grown to encompass memorials in dozens of cities across the world. 2010 is the 9th year of this event.”

Members should keep in mind this is not a day to honor trans people who have killed themselves or died of natural causes. (In my opinion)

[Anonymous]

A Gender Agenda is holding a TDOR event in Canberra at 5:30pm on Friday 19 November

[Anonymous]

and a nice little article about tdor – and how it differs from other lgb celbratory days …

http://arbiteronline.com/2010/11/17/the-weekly-buzz-kill-transgender-day-of-remembrance/

[Anonymous]

from gwendolyn ann smith, the founder of tdor:

Dancing on graves

Transmissions
Published 11/18/2010

by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

This Saturday is November 20, a date set aside more than a decade ago to honor those who we lost due to anti-transgender violence and prejudice. The date coincides with the death of Chanelle Pickett in Massachusetts in 1995. It was her murder, and that of Rita Hester just three years later, which led to the Remembering Our Dead project and the Day of Remembrance.

This year marks the 12th Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Ethan St. Pierre – a transgender activist who also lost his aunt, Debra Forte to anti-transgender violence – and I keep watch for the stories, providing them to other transgender activists every November. We also collect information about all the locations hosting vigils. I want to share some information about two events happening on November 20 this year.

In New York City, Qtalk is hosting its anniversary event, celebrating two “amazing, wonderful years” of being the “funnier, bitchier version of The View .” They’ve asked many of their friends from previous years to come by and perform, and a panel of speakers – including GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios – will be on hand to talk about the recent rise in gay suicides due to bullying. The event has a $5 cover charge, and a two-drink minimum.

Oh, and they’ll have a moment of silence to honor the Transgender Day of Remembrance, because people reminded them that it was November 20.

Across the continent, at the University of British Columbia, a Transgender Day of Remembrance event will be held at the Student Union Building. Along with some movies and workshops, they’ll have a candlelight vigil followed up by a dance party at the UBC beer garden featuring $3 beer.

Now as you can guess, I do have an investment in the Day of Remembrance. As its founder, I cannot help but cringe when it is tacked onto a party – or when a beer bust is added. It’s not about me, however, as the event is much bigger than that. It is out there, and has a life of its own.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a moment of activism, when we honor those we’ve lost, when we seek justice for the victims of anti-transgender violence, and where we make a silent commitment to those lost that we will make a better world for those who come after: a world where we have the right to exist.

It has also been a day that brings a sense of closure to friends and family of the victims, where they can see that their loss was not in vain, and that there are people out there who do care about these people.

It can also be a time of solidarity, when people of all stripes, transgender and non, can come together as one people to say, plainly, that the issue of anti-transgender violence is not to be tolerated.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is for Pickett and Hester. It’s for Brandon Teena and Gwen Araujo. It is for hundreds of those we know were killed, and for thousands more we may never know.

This year, too, it is about people like Roy Jones, a 16-month-old infant who was pummeled by his babysitter for acting like “a little girl.” It’s about Ashley Santiago Ocasio who was stabbed to death in Puerto Rico and Azra, a Turkish transwoman who was shot in the back of the head. It is about them and many more.

The event is not about dance parties. It is not about being funny nor bitchy. As important as issues of bullying and suicide are, the Day of Remembrance should not be overshadowed for the sake of ratings or remaining topical. It is a somber, sobering event – and should probably not have cover charges or cheap beer mixed in with the sorrow and anger.

In response to community anger and frustration, Qtalk officials did state that they had not meant to offend anyone with their event, and they let people know that they felt this was a good time to bring the community together to discuss how to make things better. It was only then that they opted to add a moment of silence to the event – but not to reschedule it.

It leaves me cold, and questioning exactly how does one “bring the community together” by co-opting a date for an event that has been around for more than a decade. I wonder if their response would be the same if they had scheduled their celebration on December 1 (World AIDS Day) or if they might find that in bad taste. If the latter is true, what makes the Day of Remembrance any different?

Also, why host an event on bullying and suicide at your anniversary celebration? Why did they not do that on Spirit Day? Why conflate so many things into such a hodgepodge? But I digress.

Over the last few years, I have heard reactions from people, indicating that the Transgender Day of Remembrance is a “depressing” event. I don’t disagree. It is difficult to hear these stories, and realize that this remains such a large-scale problem.

For that matter, I’d fully support an event that is a celebration of who we are. I’d love to see, for example, a really big party held every August – the anniversary of the Compton’s Cafeteria riot where transgender people stood up against the police in San Francisco – where people of every hue of trans identity could shake their groove things.

I’m all for laughter, dancing, and even a drink or two – but not on this one day. This is not a day to dance on our graves.

Gwen Smith founded the Transgender Day of Remembrance. You can find her online at http://www.gwensmith.com.

url:http://www.ebar.com/columns/column.php?sec=transmissions&article=151

[Anonymous]

and here is another tdor event (yes, there are others to choose from):

Quote:

PLEASE Join me & friends at the 2010 International Transgender Day of Remembrance 20th November. 7pm. Under Mary’s Pink Lamp, Mary’s Place by the Beresford Hotel Bourke St Surry Hills, by Taylor Sq. Come light a candle with me for our Brothers & Sisters who have been murdered. Hundreds are every year so lets also show support to stop Transphobia. Ever year we Remember behind closed doors on this day, this year get out of closed doors & show we want to stop Transphobia. Transgender,Transexuals,Transvestites,Friends,Supporters,Family all welcome, bring a candle, a flower, just come. Carmen Rupe

this and other events mentioned in sso:

Quote:

Carmen Rupe and friends are holding a memorial vigil to mark International Transgender Day of Remembrance on Saturday.

People are asked to gather from 7pm under the Lamp for Mary artwork in Mary’s Place off Bourke Street in Surry Hills to lay a flower or light a candle with Carmen to remember the victims of hate crimes motivated by transphobia.

This is the first time the group have held the event publicly after holding private gatherings for years, and around 100 people are expected to attend.

Carmen Rupe is a legendary transgender performer who performed in the Les Girls review in the 1960’s and was inducted into the Variety Hall of Fame in 2008.

In the same year she lead the Decade of the Diva float in the Sydney Mardi Gras.

Other events marking the Transgender Day of Remembrance include a workshop by Dr Tracie O’Keefe running from 11.30am-1.30pm and a performance night hosted by Regrette Etcetera from 6pm-10pm, both at Chippendale’s Serial Space.

International Transgender Day of Remembrance was created to honour American transwoman Rita Hester (pictured), whose 1998 murder inspired the ‘Remembering Our Dead’ online project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil.

Info:

Saturday, November 20

Carmen Rupe & Friends Vigil

Mary’s Place, Surry Hills from 7pm

Workshop- 11.30am-1.30pm, Performance 6pm-10pm

Serial Space, 33 Wellington St, Chippendale.

http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2010/11/19/international-transgender-day-of-remembrance-vigil/33644

[Anonymous]

in case you were still wondering what this day is all about, here is a great speech from amanda simpson (who? oh, you know, the person who david letterman made a “joke” about that seems to have been acceptable by some people – not by amanda).

check her out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Simpson

from youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UozjZ2bmIJc&feature=player_embedded

Quote:

On Thursday, Nov. 18, District and area residents gathered for the Transgender Day of Remembrance at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington. The annual event, marking a time to remember transgender victims of crime — including several murders that have gone unsolved — brought together more than a hundred community members on Thursday evening.

This year’s keynote speaker was Amanda Simpson, a senior technical advisor in the U.S. Department of Commerce and the first trans-identified woman to receive a presidential appointment. She spoke out against transphobia and its consequences — whether coming from a comedian like David Letterman or from the gay community.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

in case you were still wondering what this day is all about, here is a great speech from amanda simpson (who? oh, you know, the person who david letterman made a “joke” about that seems to have been acceptable by some people – not by amanda).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UozjZ2bmIJc&feature=player_embedded

Thanks for posting this V, it does show her perspective and it clearly shows that she thought it was unacceptable which makes the whole Letterman skit unacceptable in it’s own right.

The speech she made was amazing and I have passed it on to others with a hope that they too will watch it, attitude readjust if necessary and pass it on.

The only thing I can add, is we should all watch the video, and we should all remember it next time we make Kiwi jokes, Irish jokes, Jokes about Muslims, Christians and in fact any race, sect or group of people (including Scientologists.)

Amanda made the very well put and clear point that the hatred and misunderstanding of gender diverse people starts with the name calling, and if we think about our daily lives how many of use participate, or watch on whilst others are called names, made fun of, or ridiculed. It is how it starts and whilst there are a lot less deaths in Ireland because of people getting taunted with Irish jokes, maybe we should consider that some will take offence, and therefore we should stop it across the board and set an example to all.

Michelle

[Anonymous]

well, shells, it’s good to see that we agree on this one. ethnic humour or put down humour based on a stereotype is often hate speech in disguise, and to some extent will have an element of ridicule and deprecation included. but hey, that’s just my view, and totally unsubstantiated by fact. i am not sure that the correlation between deaths and the sterotype butt of the joke needs to be established to conclude that this type of humour is probably best left alone (again, imho).

laughing at ourselves is a lot different from people laughng at you. yes – we should laugh at ourselves. drink a can of harden the %&* up. i still pray for the day, however, when the media will portray transgender people in a positive light, not as subjects for jokes or for sensationalism purposes. i don’t think i am asking too much or am being unreasonable, but again, that’s just me.

i look forward to catching up with you some time to toast our likemindedness.

virginia xo

ps moderator, i think we have strayed off topic again …

Moderator

Quote:

I’m sure it was with the best intentions V! Now back to the topic please! TDOR !