Jason Howard Green

Jason Howard Green

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Unforgettable Pride Moments- Number Ten


I attended my first Transgender Day of Remembrance in 2007 and was so moved by the power of this event. But at the same time so disappointed by the number of people that I saw in attendance. This candlelight vigil/ remembrance ceremony enlighted me to something I wasn't aware of - transphobia, tranpanic and transviolence. The day of remembrance brings a spotlight to those members of the trans-community that have been murdered over the course of the year.

Being a member of the LGBT community, I'm aware that we are a group that often times forget about the existence of the T. But we can't sit idly by while our brothers and sisters are being killed while we do nothing. It's important for us to be inclusive of the trans community. It's important for us to show up at events about or sponsored by the trans community. And it's important for us to start tearing down the walls and having dialogue about what divides us as a community so we can address it and hopefully move beyond it.

When I attended again in 2008 I sadly learned that the number of murders was on the increase. Actually three members of the transgender community were killed just two days before the event was held.

This event was a learning experience for me. It also gave me an opportunity to befriend some terrific people that I would have never known had I not attended. It is an event that made me more of an activist for not only the LG and B but also the T community. For those reasons the Trangender Day of Remembrance is number ten on my list of Unforgettable Pride Moments.

See more photos from the Transgender Day of Remembrance 2007 here or 2008 here.

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