Original Article by SIG Members
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Colleen A. Sloan, Ph.D., VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston University School of Medicine,
Anna Salomaa, M.S., Boston Healthcare System, Pennsylvania State University
November 20, 2020
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Colleen A. Sloan, Ph.D., VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston University School of Medicine,
Anna Salomaa, M.S., Boston Healthcare System, Pennsylvania State University
November 20, 2020
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an internationally recognized observance on November 20th that commemorates transgender and gender-diverse lives lost due to anti-transgender violence. The annual day of mourning began back in 1998 after Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman, was brutally murdered in Allston, Massachusetts. Over 20 years later, despite not having answers in the death of Hester, our world acknowledges ongoing violence perpetrated against transgender and gender diverse people — a devastating narrative that disproportionately impacts our transgender and gender diverse individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
In the past two decades, there has been increased awareness of the painful realities that exist for transgender and gender diverse individuals, particularly within the United States. Findings from the most recent administration of the United States Transgender Survey in 2015 highlighted troubling disparities including high rates of violence and victimization across the life span, inequities in healthcare and the criminal justice system, and inadequate legal and public accommodations protections. Across the board, these disparities were even starker for trans respondents of color,¹ highlighting the compounded effects of systemic racism and cisgenderism.
Unfortunately, this bleak picture has not improved over the last four years. In fact, since the beginning of the Trump administration in 2017, the National Center for Transgender Equality has tracked dozens of instances in which this administration has attempted to or successfully attacked the rights of transgender and gender diverse people in the U.S. including within healthcare, housing, education, and military service,² all of which disproportionately affect transgender and gender diverse who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. In addition to legal attacks on civil rights, murders of transgender and gender diverse people are also on the rise. The Human Rights Campaign has noted that,
"…2020 has already seen at least 33 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women. We say at least because too often these stories go unreported — or misreported. Since Human Rights Campaign began tracking this data in 2013, advocates have never seen such a high number at this point in the year."³
And these numbers are not specific to the U.S. At least 350 transgender people have been killed in 2020 worldwide, the majority of which occurred in Brazil and the majority of which were transwomen of color.⁴ With these numbers in mind, Transgender Day of Remembrance in 2020 reminds us that our work for transgender and gender diverse people, particularly Black, Indigenous and People of Color, is far from complete.
So, we must keep fighting… and there is still hope! Results of the United States Transgender Survey 2015 also highlighted increased acceptance and visibility¹ — visibility that was made apparent during U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s recent acceptance speech, in which he specifically mentioned the transgender community. Additionally, U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is the first Vice President-elect in history to share her pronouns on social media. And excitingly, in the 2020 U.S. election, the first ever transgender woman, Sarah McBride, was elected to the Delaware State Senate, and the first ever indigenous transgender woman, Stephanie Byers, was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. And, transgender politicians exist in countries all over the world, including but not limited to Belgium, Italy, and Thailand. So, while Transgender Day of Remembrance certainly sheds light on sad statistics, it also reminds us of the importance of honoring and increasing the visibility of transgender and gender diverse lives, especially those who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
Because despite all of these challenges and barriers, there are many positive aspects of being transgender and gender diverse that deserve celebrating! A study of transgender people identified personal growth, learning to be empathic, finding liberation through self-disclosure, having a unique perspective into gender, living beyond a binary, and being part of a community as unique aspects of their experiences as transgender and gender diverse people that enriched their lives.⁵
As healthcare providers, we play an important role in reducing disparities and increasing resilience of transgender and gender diverse Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities. It is crucial that we provide affirming care for transgender and gender diverse individuals — it can quite literally save lives. The Model of Gender Affirmation⁶ outlines how social interactions that affirm gender identity and expression are directly linked to positive health outcomes for transgender people. What does gender affirming care look like? While this is not an exhaustive list, affirmation can start with:
In the past two decades, there has been increased awareness of the painful realities that exist for transgender and gender diverse individuals, particularly within the United States. Findings from the most recent administration of the United States Transgender Survey in 2015 highlighted troubling disparities including high rates of violence and victimization across the life span, inequities in healthcare and the criminal justice system, and inadequate legal and public accommodations protections. Across the board, these disparities were even starker for trans respondents of color,¹ highlighting the compounded effects of systemic racism and cisgenderism.
Unfortunately, this bleak picture has not improved over the last four years. In fact, since the beginning of the Trump administration in 2017, the National Center for Transgender Equality has tracked dozens of instances in which this administration has attempted to or successfully attacked the rights of transgender and gender diverse people in the U.S. including within healthcare, housing, education, and military service,² all of which disproportionately affect transgender and gender diverse who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. In addition to legal attacks on civil rights, murders of transgender and gender diverse people are also on the rise. The Human Rights Campaign has noted that,
"…2020 has already seen at least 33 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women. We say at least because too often these stories go unreported — or misreported. Since Human Rights Campaign began tracking this data in 2013, advocates have never seen such a high number at this point in the year."³
And these numbers are not specific to the U.S. At least 350 transgender people have been killed in 2020 worldwide, the majority of which occurred in Brazil and the majority of which were transwomen of color.⁴ With these numbers in mind, Transgender Day of Remembrance in 2020 reminds us that our work for transgender and gender diverse people, particularly Black, Indigenous and People of Color, is far from complete.
So, we must keep fighting… and there is still hope! Results of the United States Transgender Survey 2015 also highlighted increased acceptance and visibility¹ — visibility that was made apparent during U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s recent acceptance speech, in which he specifically mentioned the transgender community. Additionally, U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is the first Vice President-elect in history to share her pronouns on social media. And excitingly, in the 2020 U.S. election, the first ever transgender woman, Sarah McBride, was elected to the Delaware State Senate, and the first ever indigenous transgender woman, Stephanie Byers, was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. And, transgender politicians exist in countries all over the world, including but not limited to Belgium, Italy, and Thailand. So, while Transgender Day of Remembrance certainly sheds light on sad statistics, it also reminds us of the importance of honoring and increasing the visibility of transgender and gender diverse lives, especially those who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
Because despite all of these challenges and barriers, there are many positive aspects of being transgender and gender diverse that deserve celebrating! A study of transgender people identified personal growth, learning to be empathic, finding liberation through self-disclosure, having a unique perspective into gender, living beyond a binary, and being part of a community as unique aspects of their experiences as transgender and gender diverse people that enriched their lives.⁵
As healthcare providers, we play an important role in reducing disparities and increasing resilience of transgender and gender diverse Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities. It is crucial that we provide affirming care for transgender and gender diverse individuals — it can quite literally save lives. The Model of Gender Affirmation⁶ outlines how social interactions that affirm gender identity and expression are directly linked to positive health outcomes for transgender people. What does gender affirming care look like? While this is not an exhaustive list, affirmation can start with:
1. Using correct pronouns and names. When meeting someone new, ask if they feel comfortable sharing their pronouns, and share your own; if someone does share their pronouns, use them. Also, make sure to use someone’s chosen name verbally and on forms when requested. Sharing your pronouns and including these important identity markers on intake forms and within medical records can normalize information gathering processes and promote use of correct pronouns and names.
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2. Displaying environmental cues of safety. Consider displaying markers conveying trans support in your workplace. Visible cues, like a flag or pamphlet, can signal that a space is safe, respectful, and affirming. Be sure to also include images of transgender and gender diverse Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in clinic brochures, posters, and other signage. Importantly, do your research to make sure you are up to date on providing identity-affirming care.
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3. Taking action against legal/social barriers. For some transgender and gender diverse individuals, participation in marches, community action, and/or advocacy work can be an empowering act in the face of injustice. However, social change also requires cisgender and white allies to engage in activism. If we seek to end violence against transgender and gender diverse people, our efforts must go beyond our work settings.
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WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
Get informed and get active! Familiarize yourself with information about trans experiences to share with friends and family, so more people can get educated and involved. Consider joining local or online candlelight vigils to engage in the collective remembrance of transgender and gender diverse lives.
Visit the Audre Lorde Project (https://alp.org) and GLAAD (https://www.glaad.org/tdor) for links to organizations and resources for participating in The Transgender Day of Remembrance.
References
Get informed and get active! Familiarize yourself with information about trans experiences to share with friends and family, so more people can get educated and involved. Consider joining local or online candlelight vigils to engage in the collective remembrance of transgender and gender diverse lives.
Visit the Audre Lorde Project (https://alp.org) and GLAAD (https://www.glaad.org/tdor) for links to organizations and resources for participating in The Transgender Day of Remembrance.
References
- James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality.
- The Discrimination Administration: Trump’s record of action against transgender people. Retrieved from: https://transequality.org/the-discrimination-administration
- Fatah Violence Against the Transgender and Gender-Non-Conforming Community in 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-trans-and-gender-non-conforming-community-in-2020
- Wareham, J. (2020, November 11). Murdered, suffocated, and burned alive: 350 transgender people killed in 2020. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiewareham/2020/11/11/350-transgender-people-have-been-murdered-in-2020-transgender-day-of-remembrance-list/?sh=46b9c89365a6
- Riggle, E. D., Rostosky, S. S., McCants, L. E., & Pascale-Hague, D. (2011). The positive aspects of a transgender self-identification. Psychology & Sexuality, 2(2), 147-158.
- Sevelius, J. M. (2013). Gender affirmation: A framework for conceptualizing risk behavior among transgender women of color. Sex Roles, 68(11-12), 675-689.