Transgender Day of Remembrance

 

This Friday, November 20, marks the 21st Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). TDOR is a day set aside to memorialize those killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman of color whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the Remembering Our Dead web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in early 1999. Due to the interest in both the website and that original vigil, it was decided that an annual memorial to those killed due to anti-transgender violence or prejudice was necessary to help spread information about these deaths. Minister and civil rights movement pioneer, Rev. Howard Thurman once said: “The measure of a man’s estimate of your strength is the kind of weapons he feels he must use in order to hold you fast in a prescribed place.” If I hold Rev. Thurman's words to be true, the strength of the trans community is strong. As a transgender man, I know all too well that the past few years and 2020 particularly, feel like every weapon in the arsenal has been lobbed at transgender people. As we observe TDOR this year, we reckon with the difficult truth that at least 350 transgender people have been killed worldwide in the past year, including the 38 mostly Black, Indigenous and POC transgender women who have been killed in the United States, this number does not include the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on marginalized communities whose bodies and lives are not well taken care of by our medical communities. At the same time, we continue to claim our strength and resilience, even in the face of a transphobic arsenal fired at us by those who are so blinded by a mindset of scarcity that they see the very existence of trans people as a threat. And it is in this mindset of abundance that I wanted to share with you a few resources to help you live into an abundant welcome for the trans people in your life and in the world. I recently made a video offering some reflections on what TDOR 2020 means to me. On Tuesday, I was joined by Rev. Remington Johnson, a trans woman and Presbyterian Minister, for a lovely conversation about Matthew 25:31-46 for Liberation Bible Study. You can also check out previous conversations I’ve had with trans guests on Liberation Bible Study, including Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis, Myles Markham, Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, and MLP’s Program & Communications Manager, Rev. Jess Cook.  More Light Blog contributor Salina Brett wrote a blog post on how to engage TDOR as a white trans woman seeking to live and show up in solidarity with her BIPOC trans brothers, sisters, and siblings.  If you are looking to integrate TDOR into a worship space, check out our liturgy for a TDOR service in the Worship Resources section of our website. To learn more about the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s affirmation of trans and non-binary people, check out the overture adopted at the 223rd General Assembly in 2018: Affirming And Celebrating The Full Dignity And Humanity Of People Of All Gender Identities. We have a long way to go on the journey to creating a world where all of God’s beloved children are seen, loved, and safe to live in the world. As we continue to walk on that journey, may we hold to a love that is unafraid, strive for a justice that is unbowed, and be guided by a hope that is unleashed. This day and every day.  I am so grateful for the ways you've continued to support the work of More Light, and I ask that you continue doing so by making a donation today.  In gratitude and solidarity, Rev. Alex Patchin McNeill he/him/his Executive Director More Light Presbyterians P.S. Looking for an easy way to stay in touch with More Light? Or receive regular messages of support and affirmation? Or make donations in a snap? You can now stay in touch with More Light via text messaging! To sign up, simply text 72572 and enter the code 1MLP to connect with the speed and ease of a text message. S U P P O R T  M O R E  L I G H T !

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