November 20, 2019 was the twentieth anniversary of the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR). Our community came together to remember the lives of the 22 trans people killed in the US since November 2018. Of those 22 killed, 21 were people of color and 19 were trans women of color. The lives that were remembered were:
- Dana Martin, 31, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 6.
- Ashanti Carmon, 27, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Prince George’s County, Maryland, on March 30.
- Claire Legato, 21, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Cleveland on April 15.
- Muhlaysia Booker, 23, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Dallas on May 18.
- Michelle ‘Tamika’ Washington, 40, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Philadelphia on May 19.
- Paris Cameron, 20, a Black transgender woman, was among three people killed in a horrific anti-LGBTQ shooting in a home in Detroit on May 25.
- Chynal Lindsey, 26, a Black transgender woman, was found dead in White Rock Lake, Dallas, with signs of “homicidal violence” on June 1.
- Chanel Scurlock, 23, a Black transgender woman, was found fatally shot in Lumberton, North Carolina, on June 6.
- Zoe Spears, 23, a Black transgender woman, was found with signs of trauma near Eastern Avenue in Fairmount Heights, Maryland, and later pronounced dead on June 13.
- Brooklyn Lindsey, 32, a Black transgender woman, was found dead in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 25.
- Denali Berries Stuckey, 29, a Black transgender woman, was found fatally shot in North Charleston, South Carolina, on July 20.
- Tracy Single, 22, a Black transgender woman, was killed in Houston on July 30.
- Bubba Walker, 55, a Black transgender woman, was killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, in late July. Walker was reported missing on July 26.
- Kiki Fantroy, 21, a Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Miami on July 31.
- Jordan Cofer, 22, was among the nine victims killed in a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, on August
- Pebbles LaDime “Dime” Doe, 24, a Black transgender woman, was killed in Allendale County, South Carolina, on August 4.
- Bailey Reeves, 17, a Black transgender teen, was fatally shot in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 2.
- Bee Love Slater, 23, was killed in Clewiston, Florida, on September 4.
- Jamagio Jamar Berryman, 30, a Black gender non-conforming person, was killed in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 13.
- Itali Marlowe, 29, a Black transgender woman was found shot in Houston on September 20. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
- Brianna “BB” Hill, 30, was fatally shot in Kansas City on October 14.
There were 316 documented killings of trans people worldwide this past year. 128 trans people were killed
Ryan Amir Harris of TransSaints was the Master of Ceremonies. He opened and closed the program and introduced the four speakers for this year; Yemaya Rose, Amarra Michelle Gains, Kataleya Giles and Arykah Carter.
All four speakers spoke powerfully and from the heart. Yemaya spoke as to why it was important for all trans people to stand together against hate. Amarra spoke about her fears after having been physically assaulted by her stepfather and of always looking over her should after his release from jail for that assault. Kataleya told her transition story for the first time, of being rejected by her religious father but supported by her mother. Arykah spoke about her dislike for needing a holiday like TDoR and her hopes for a future without it.
After the main program was over at 7:45, there was a networking session until 8:30. Crossport, UC Health, Central Clinic and Caracole all tabled at the event. The movie “Leelah’s Highway” played at 8:30, and 110 people stayed to watch it. The event wrapped up at 9pm.
Brazil, 61 in Mexico, 22 in the US, 14 in Columbia, 13 in Argentina and 10 each in India and Pakistan.
About 220 people attended TDoR this year and it was featured as a story on WCPO Channel 9 News at 11pm. Laura Ann Weaver and Arykah Carter were interviewed for the story. If you have not seen it, you can watch it here: