The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance ( TDOR ), a solemn observance honoring the memory of trans people who have perished in the line of duty due to acts of anti-transvesty violence, is being observed today. TDOR, which was started in 1999 by trans activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith, started as a celebration in honor of Rita Hester, who was painfully killed in 1998. Since then, this day has become a worldwide celebration honoring all transgender individuals who have been the victims of violence.
The creator of TDOR, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, emphasizes how significant this day is.
According to Smith,” Transgender Day of Remembrance aims to highlight the losses we experience as a result of murder and anti-gay prejudice.” ” It is crucial that those we lose are remembered, and that we keep fighting for fairness.”
Alarming statistics about the violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people have been released by the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) over the years. The HRC recorded 59 casualties in 2021, a record. At least 41 transgender and female non-conforming individuals were fatally shot or killed by another harsh means the subsequent month. Regrettably, there will already be 26 in 2023.
However, HRC observes a troubling trend in the United States: anti-LGBT+ regulations has increased significantly by 2023, breaking records for such initiatives.
Islamist organizations are driving this wave of legislation that targets the right and existence of LGBTQ+ people, especially those who are trans and non-binary. The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Family Research Council as love teams, and they are at the forefront of this movement.
Over 520 anti- LGBTQ+ charges have been introduced in recent developments across state legislatures, setting a report. More than 220 of them precisely target trans and non-binary people, which is a record high. 70 of these proposed laws have been passed as of this writing. This includes seven laws that either require or permit transgender students to be mistreated in academic settings, as well as 15 laws outlawing gender-affirming care for these young people.
Also, drag performances are constrained by two existing laws. Three rules that effectively give discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity a passport have been passed in an effort to achieve sanctioned discrimination. Additionally, four rules impose censorship in academic curricula, particularly when it comes to LGBTQ+-related subjects and poetry. These legislative steps mark a significant and troubling move away from the LGBTQ+ community’s institutional discrimination.
These worries are shared by Human Rights Watch, which draws attention to the pervasive abuse and harassment of trans individuals in the US. Contrary to popular belief, the recent upsurge in trans rights conversations has increased both awareness of and hostility toward transgendered people. Transgender people are frequently badly demonized by legislators and media figures, which contributes to a rise in bias-motivated crimes.
Alabama saw one of the most contentious congressional developments in April 2022. The government signed a bill with harsh penalties for violation that forbids transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming treatment. Big medical organisations, including The American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, have harshly criticized this action, claiming that the rules are biased and based on false information.
Being trans is not inherently bad or unnatural, according to the American Psychiatric Association. They do, however, acknowledge that some transgender people experience gender anxiety, a condition that calls for support and understanding rather than stigma.
As TDOR is noted, it serves as a sobering warning of the ongoing fight for trans rights and the pressing need to combat the community’s violence and discrimination. It is a visit to honor the lives lost and to carry on the battle for an era in which such traditions are no longer required.
