A day to remember...

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day is set aside to remember those who have died due to prejudice and hatred. Hatred towards those who do not easily wear labels like "male" or "female" or "man" and "woman."

Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives (gender.org). Most anti-transgender hate crimes are rarely solved.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance exists for several reasons. It raises public awareness.. there are candlelight vigils nationwide, so please check gender.org for one near you. It gives positive media attention toward our transgender community. It also allows us to, again, unite and mourn and remember our transgender sisters who may otherwise be forgotten. Candlelight vigils put faces to the many names and allows the transgender community and allies to mourn together, to give a voice to those who have died, and to let non-transgender people know that transgender people are not "freaks" but their sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, and so often great friends.

"Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgendered — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgendered people."

Below is a list of names.. which undoubtedly fails to cover everyone it should. Please read the names and take a moment to remember them.


Edna Brown
Tyra Hunter
Huriell Lockett(David King)
UnknownNew York City, 1972
Rhonda Star(Ronnie Dean Lyles)
Cynthia Coffman
Felicia Coffman
Harvey Aberles
UnknownAtlanta, 10/29/91
Jamie Ford
Jean (Woodrow) Powell
Unknown,Atlanta 12/20/92
Anthony Swain
Derry Glenn
Quincy Favors Taylor
Lynn Therrett
David A. Perez
Michelle Maree
Rev. John “Gypsy” Prowett
Chanelle Pickett
Brandon
Logan Smith
Robyn Brown(James Brown)
Maxwell Confait
Giuseppe Mandanici
Marsha P. Johnson
Alan Fitzgerald Walker
Jae Stevens
Stella Essie(Jerome Brent)
Debra Forte
Unknown,Madrid, 1997
Jose Angel Osuna
Mara Duvouw
John
Sigfrilda ShantallPastor Arguelles
Fitzroy “Jamaica” Green
Luana(Junior de Silva Lago)
Chanel Chandler
Rita Hester
UnknownSanta Ana, 11/20/88
Harold Draper
Richard Goldman
Monique Rogers
Jessy Santiago
Cameron “Tina” Tanner
Robert Woefel
Thomas Hall
Maria “La Conchita”Palencia
Rene “Michelle” Ouellet
Tasha Dunn
Terrie Ladwig
Chrissey (Marvin) Johnson
Steven Wilson
Christian Paige
Vianna Faye Williams
Johanna Langer
UnknownGuatemala City, 1997
Robert H. Jones
Stacey Estupinian
UnknownLos Angeles, 1991
Diane Delia
Marcela(Sergio Arias)
Lisa Janna Black
Janice Ricks
Dianne Aubert
Deanna Wilkinson
Larry Laverne Turner
Karla (José Alexis) Barrahona
Mocha Celis
Shawn Keegan
Keooudorn Phothisane
Castro Nova Estabon
Gracie (James) Detzler
Felix Abarca
Nikki
Jerrell Williams
Venus Xtravaganza
Donald Pierce
Monique (Rufus) Thomas
Lauryn Paige(Donald Fuller)
Carlos “Tasha” Santiago
Lazaro Comesana
Peggy Santiago
Carmen Marie Montoya
Rafael Sanchez Ayala
Jody Susan Ford
Steve Dwayne Garcia
Grayce “Candace” Baxter
Robert Eads
William Battles
UnknownPhiladelphia, 1995
Anna Francisco
Lynn Montana
Patrick Calvert
Gisele Gaga’
Tarayon Corbitt
Stephan “Stephanie” Chapman
UnknownHouston, 2/25/99
Ashley-Ann Summers(Eric Farrow)
Cam (Camilla) Lyman
Chantal Gillade
Ernest “Ernestine” Murray
UnknownOakland, 7/10/95
Gordon Tuckey
Regina Haskins
David F. McLaughlin
UnknownBronx, 2/8/92
Donnie O. Osby
Larry Venzant
Leslie Re’Geanne
Alanna Kella
Reynaldo “Reyna” Sandoval
UnknownWashington, D.C., 1/4/82
Rosando “Crystal” Sanchez-Reyes
Tracy Thompson
James “Tatiana” Rivers
Tara O’Hara
Ruby Bota
Philip Robert Filshie
Daniel A. Castro
“Midnight”(Kenneth Dale Robinson)
Christiaan D’Arcy
Jacqueline Julita Anderson
David Edward Wigley
UnknownSan Antonio, 03/29/91
UnknownAkron, 09/17/94
Emmon Bodfish(Margaret Bodfish)
Carol Wright
UnknownSan Diego, 6/22/94
Valerie Hill
Shannon Elroy Clay
Derrick “Miss Tess” Hampton
UnknownMiami, 1984
Barbara (William) Brodie
Jean ShelleyBoushard Fox
Toni (David) Lowry
Martine Bohn
Chiron Collins(Allen Kenneth Byrd)
Jonathan “Tanya” Streater
Faustino “Tina” Arroyo
Diane (Anthony Ellsworth) Carter
Sherri Ransom
Tianna (Timothy) Langley
Steven Hernandez
Samantha York
Eduardo Lora Vasallio
Michelle Byrne
Juaquin Jiminez
Linda Williams
Vernon Sivills
Maurice E. Murray
Lim Yeow Chuan
Jessica (Gerardo) Castillo
Phyllis Olson
“Benderella”
Cortez Morris
Clyde Massie
Terry Wilson
Charles Albert Lizotte
Felix Benitez
Terri Williams Moore
Jane Golden(James Boyd)
Ramon Baez
Victor Hugo Castillejos
Rita Sellers
Carla Leigh Salazar
Perry Young
UnknownBoston, 1979
Vanessa (Barry) Lane
Rodney D. Neadeau
Ali He’shun Forney
UnknownSanta Ana, 7/10/93
Dion Webster
Adele Bailey
Kevin Freeman
Pfc. Barry Winchell
Yancey-Lisa R.
Yamile (Jorge) Lee
Barbarella(Joe V.)
Kareem Washington
Barretta Williams
Marvin Ball
Chareka Keys
“Tiny”(Robert Howard Gibson)
Quona R. Clark
Tacy Raino Ranta
Lindsey Alexander(Todd Alexander Asay)
UnknownDallas, 12/8/99
Toni Lee
Alina Marie Barragan
Christine Chappel
Jill Seidel
Delores Mack
Ihok(Hugo Yonathan)
Vanesa-Lorena Ledesma(Miguel Angel Ledesma)
Curdell James III
Michelle Lynne O’Hara
Carla Natasha Hunt
Stephanie Yazum(Frank Yazum)
Toya Charlton
Andre Vacarro
Tyra Henderson
Amanda Milan
Julie Birchall
UnknownNew York City, 1975
Déjà (Dondre) Johnson
Astrid La Fontaine
Dayana(Jose Luis Nieves)
Keith E. Jackson
Julia Carrizales
Beverly Lineth
Dinh Van Vo
Brandi Houston
James Jerome Mack
Ana Melisa Cortez
Billy Jean Lavette
Antonio Johnson
Francisco Javier Luna
Robert Martin
Sissy (Charles) Bolden
F.C. Martinez, Jr.
Jamie (James) Jackson
Loni Okaruru
Joanne Lillecrapp
Willie Houston
Alexandra
UnknownRome, 9/12/98
Carlo Enrique Teixeira
Marzia De Melo Rosa
Antonio Texera Dos Santos
Antonia K.
Terrianne Summers
Faye Urry
Bibi Barajas(Hugo Cesar Barajas)
Marquita (Martin) Johnson
Michelle Paz
UnknownIndonesia, 5/17/02
Gary “Brazon” McMurtry
UnknownJapan, 2/26/02
Arlene (Hector) Diaz
Aretha “ReRe” Scott(Franklin Freeman)
Alejandro Ray Lucero
Della Reeves(Lester Childress)
Amy (Raymond) Soos
“Walquiria”(aka “Walter”)
Paola Matos
Leonela Valero Parra
Chris Muzett(Eddie Matthews)
Anjie Milano (Andy Rafael Milano)
Nicole Lee Anderson(Thomas Shrom)
Deasha(Gerald Andrews)
Ukea Davis
Raymond Nonato
Stephanie Thomas
Victor Pachas
Pilar (Vladimir)Ibáñez Carrasco
Sidnei Geber Aguila
Daniel Phillip“Danielle” Redding
Raimundo Rocha Alves
Nguyen Bui Linh
Ontwon Curtis
Ediviana Lopez da Cruez
Joseph Moran
Porfiro Mejia
Gwen Araujo
Roberta Nizah Morris
Georgina Matehaere
Timothy “Cinnamon” Broadus
Nikki Nicholas
Danisha VictoriaPrincipal Williams
Chandini, aka Nazir
Mimi Young
Tanesha Starr
Luciana D. S. Oliveira Mazza
Tamyra Michaels
Shelby Tracey Tom
Ze Galhinha
Ronald Andrew Brown
Merlinka(Vjeran Miladinovic)
Amanda Jofré
UnknownColumbia, 03/06/03
Cinnamon (Kendrick) Perry
Nireah Johnson
Brandie Coleman
Ericka (Erick David) Yáñez
Jessica Mercado
UnknownBrazil, 04/02
Fernanda Covarrubi
Jorge Rafael Cruz
Marcelo Cesar Goulart
Selena Álvarez-Hernández
Bella Evangelista
Emonie Kiera Spaulding
Michael Charles Hurd
“Amirilis”
Dayana Valverde
Rogelio Jiménez Cortez
Cassandra “Tula” Do
Enrico Taglialatela
“Sindy” Cuarda
Rider Orcero
Erika Johana
Lee “China” Zainal
Adrian Torres de Assuncao
Stanley Van Dyke Traylor
UnknownNew Zealand, 2/9/04
Reshae McCauley
Mickey Ward-El Smith
Precious Armani
UnknownIndia, 6/7/04
UnknownPuerto Rico, 7/11/04
Augusto Flores Munoz
Cedric Thomas
Pedro Cruz Ramos
UnknownPuerto Rico, 7/11/04
Darryl Fearon
Gennaro Rizzo
Tony “Delicious” Green
LeandroÊBispo Estavao
Rivera Rene
Divas B
Joel Robles
Bella Martinez
Andre
UnknownLong Beach, 11/06/04
UnknownPeru, 11/26/04
Ryan Shey Hoskie
Penny Port
Karlien Carstens
Felicia Moreno
Alejandra Galicio
Luana
UnknownArgentina, 1/12/05
Phool Chand Yadav
C. Hernández
UnknownArgentina, 2/22/05
Eddie Chung Chou Lee
Timothy Blair, Jr.
Amancio “Delilah” Corrales
Ashley Nickson
Robert Binenfeld
Kasha Blue
Julio Argueta
Marisa
Ronnie Paris, Jr.
Mylène
Noleen Jansen
Irene
Lisa D.
Christina Smith
Kaaseem Adalla Juanda
Donathyn J. Rodgers
UnknownMalaysia, 11/11/05

It is never to late to educate, remove stereotypes and fear, and help erase hate. Join hands, hearts, and minds... we are a community. Love your neighbor.

In Mourning,
Whitney