Transgender Day of Remembrance, held annually every Nov. 20, is a day to commemorate and reflect upon transgender individuals who have passed away due to transgender-related violence.
The day began after a transgender woman named Rita Hester was brutally stabbed in her Massachusetts apartment in 1998. Graphic designer and advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith held a candlelight vigil in memory of Hester. Every year, there are services and candlelight vigils held across the nation to commemorate the death of Hester and all transgender people lost to violence.
See listing below for information on events in your area. All events are free and open to the public.
Central Florida
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Monday, Nov. 20, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
UCF Reflection Pond, Orlando
Join members of the Multicultural Students Center at the University of Central Florida Reflection Pond for a candlelight vigil. They will have guest speakers as well as read the names of those in the transgender community who we lost to violence in 2017. For more information, visit SJA.SDES.UCF.edu/MSC.
TDoR: Transgender Day of Remembrance 2017
Monday, Nov. 20, 3:00-9:45 p.m.
Valencia College East Campus, Orlando
Valencia College’s Gay/Straight Alliance, the East Campus Student Development and GIFT (Gender Identity in Florida Today) will be holding their annual TDoR event in building 5, room 112 of Valencia College’s East Campus. Community ally displays and entertainment will begin at 3:00 p.m. with inspirational speakers and poetry readings from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Guest speakers include Cameron G. Parker, Jennifer Marvin, Rebecca Riley Storozuk and Tiara Latrice Powell. The candlelight vigil and the reading of the names will begin at 9:15 p.m. For additional information visit GIFTOrlando.org.
Tampa Bay
TDoR Services
Sunday, Nov. 19, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
King of Peace MCC, St. Petersburg
The trans ministry team of King of Peace invites everyone to join them and surround yourself with friends, community and love for their affirming and inclusive worship service. For additional information, visit ChurchStPetersburg.org.
TDoR 2017
Monday, Nov. 20, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Sunshine Senior Center, St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil will honor the more than two dozen transgender lives lost to anti-trans violence in the U.S. in 2017 on Nov. 20. A candlelight procession will leave the Sunshine Senior Center, located at 330 5th Street N. in St Pete, and end at the steps of St. Petersburg City Hall. Several guest speakers are scheduled including Tristan Byrnes, Gina Duncan, Rev. Elder Candace Shultis, Dayna Walker, Taylor Burts and trans youth Ren. Candles will be available but supplies are limited so please bring your own if possible. For more information, visit the St. Petersburg Transgender Day of Remembrance Facebook page.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Monday, Nov. 20, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Pasco-Hernando State College West Campus, New Port Richey
Pasco-Hernando State College’s West Campus, located at 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey, will be holding an event to bring awareness to the transgender community. For more information on event details please contact Peri Poland at 727-816-3745.
Screening of The Life & Death of Marsha P. Johnson
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 7:30- 9:10 p.m.
HCC Mainstage Theatre, Tampa
The Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbina Film Festival partner with Tampa Pride to bring the documentary film, The Life & Death of Marsha P. Johnson, to the Mainstage Theatre at Hillsborough Community College’s Ybor City campus.
“Who killed Marsha P. Johnson? When the beloved, self-described ‘street queen’ of NY’s Christopher Street was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992, the NYPD called her death a suicide. Protests erupted but the police remained impassive and refused to investigate. Now, twenty-five years on, Academy Award-nominated, director and journalist David France (How to Survive a Plague) examines Marsha’s death—and her extraordinary life—in his new film.”
Tickets are $15 and seating is limited. Visit tiglff.com for tickets.
Do you know of any TDoR events going on that are not listed? Email event information to Jeremy@WatermarOnline.com and we will get it added to the list.
