HWS News
21 November 2024 Transgender Day of Remembrance By Sydney Herbruck '25
The LGBTQ+ Resource Center hosted a Trans Day of Remembrance in the Seneca Room on Nov. 20.
HWS’ annual observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance served as a powerful reminder of the lives lost to anti-transgender violence and served as a call for resilience and hope within the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s ceremony was held on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the Seneca Room.
Established in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith, the international remembrance ceremony began as a vigil for Rita Hester, a transgender woman whose life was tragically taken in 1998. This initial gathering honored all transgender individuals lost to violence and ignited a global tradition that continues each November.
“We continue to honor and remember those we’ve lost due to violence while celebrating the resilience of the trans and LGBTQ+ community,” shares René Guo, Director of Intercultural Programs and Initiatives. Guo offered the event’s opening remarks. The event, they explain, emphasized the importance of creating a space that fosters reflection, solidarity and hope.
The observance included opening statements from the LGBTQ+ Resource Center staff and remarks from Counseling Center representatives, offering attendees information on available resources for confidential support. As part of the ceremony, participants read aloud the names of transgender individuals who lost their lives in the past year, ensuring that their memory continues to be honored and their stories are shared.
“We created a space for both mourning and hope,” Guo says, “leading attendees to envision a world free from gendered violence and discrimination, where all can live in dignity and safety.”
