LGBTQIA+ Commission

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE HISTORY

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) was founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman, to memorialize the murder of transgender woman Rita Hestor in Allston, MA. Since its inception, TDoR has been held annually on November 20, and has slowly evolved from the web-based project started by Smith into an international day of action.

The number of reported cases of anti-transgender hate crimes has more than doubled since 1999. In the past decade, more than one person per month has died as a result of transgender-based hate or prejudice.

It is clear that fatal violence disproportionately affects transgender women of color, and that the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia conspire to deprive them of employment, housing, healthcare and other necessities, barriers that make them vulnerable.

RESOURCES

The biographies and photographs of those we are remembering can be found in this PowerPoint presentation file. Included in the file is an explanation of what Transgender Day of Remembrance is, who is Transgender, and other resources that are linked for reference. The intention is for communities may use this information to educate, create awareness and develop ways to remember the lives that were lost.

Event Materials

2021 Bios and Photos for TDOR (ppt) - Link to Google Slides

2021 Bios and Photos for TDOR (pdf) - Download pdf

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021 Flyer - Download jpg

Learn more with Community Resources provided by the San Mateo County Pride Center

o  Cisgender Privileges Checklist

o  SMC Pride Center Bathroom Awareness Exercise

o  Dear Lady in the Women's Washroom

o  Words that are Transphobic and Why

Transgender Day of Remembrance for 2021 will be Friday, November 19.

Register for this virtual event at: https://tinyurl.com/TDOR2021smc

Program is 5:00pm to 6:30pm.

• Welcome - emcee Dana Johnson, Co-Chair LGBTQ Commission & Co-Chair Pride Initiative
• Reading of Names
• Poetry Readings 
• Panelists: Anjali Rimi, Blossom Brown, Sera Fernando
• Community Poetry & Spoken Word: Submit your work to Aileen Cassinetto, San Mateo County Poet Laureate at smcpoetlaureate@smcl.org. 

*Livestream of the event on the Redwood City Public Library YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/3D-pl2twVdo
 

Please contact Tanya Beat, tbeat@smcgov.org with any questions! This is a community organized and community held event.

Collaborating organizations include:

• San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission
• San Mateo County Pride Initiative
• San Mateo County Pride Center
• Adolescent Counseling Services Outlet
• Evergreen Giving Tree
• Redwood City Public Library
• Island United Church of Foster City