The week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face, and Hampton Roads is no exception.
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence that year.
2021 marks the most deadly year recorded with at least 45 transgender people, most of them Black or Latinx, killed. In addition, although data is scarce, research suggests that nearly half (47%) of people who identify as trans have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime and over half (54%) report experiencing IPV. Trans individuals are also more likely to be assaulted in public. Sadly, many of these acts of violence go unreported. A recent study revealed that nearly half (45%) of transgender survivors do not report to the police due to fear of discrimination.
The LGBT Life Center has partnered with the Transgender Assistance Program of Virginia, New Life Metropolitan Community Church, and the Southeastern Transgender Resource Center to produce several remembrance events this week in Hampton Roads.
On Saturday, November 20, the Life Center, MCC, and TAP VA will commemorate the trans people who have died by violence. Events planned include a Zoom and Facebook Live Transgender Day of Remembrance event. You can register here.
This Wednesday evening, the Southeastern Transgender Resource Center in Norfolk will hold an open house from 6:00-9:00 PM at their offices at 3519 Colley Avenue. The event will be highlighted by a candlelight vigil at 7:00 PM.
Old Dominion University will also hold several events, including a TDoR Education and Awareness Table on Thursday, November 18th from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM in the Webb Center’s Front Lobby. A TDor Vigil will take place on Saturday, November 20th from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM. The vigil will feature Anjeni Moore, a local transgender woman who experienced violence. The location for the vigil will be released to those who register in advance.
Empowering Transgender Services Support in Hampton will also hold a vigil from 5:00 PM – 8:PM on November 20. Registration via email is required to have the location sent to you.
