The Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021

One of the most important events in the transgender community is the Transgender Day of Remembrance and today, we’re going to give you a quick recap on what it is so you can participate in the TDOR 2021.

Before getting to the nitty-gritty of how to get involved, it’s time for a brief history so you know what magnitude this holds to every transgender individual.

What is TDOR?

Also known as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, TDOR is an annual observance of transgender victims who died from transphobic hate crimes.

When and where does it take place?

It occurs every 20^th of November and is observed worldwide.

Origins

TDOR was conceptualized by a small group. One of its known founders is Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman who’s also a trans activist. In 1999, the murder of transgender woman Rita Hester in Alliston, Massachusetts, sparked the idea of the creation of TDOR.

Since then, TDOR has been celebrated annually, with TDOR 2010 becoming monumental as it was observed in 185 cities throughout more than 20 countries.

What takes place in TDOR?

The typical commemoration is a spectrum of many ways and these include but are not limited to:

Readings of the names of transgender victims who succumbed to violence from November 20 of the previous year to November 20 of the current year.

• Candlelight vigils
• City marches
• Dedicated church services
• Food drives
• Art shows
• Film screenings and more

How to be part of the Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021

Now that you have the refresher, it’s time to take action. Please know that this event is not exclusive to transgender people. Anyone can participate and help achieve its goal.

Remember, the goal of TDOR is to spread awareness and help eradicate the abuse, violence, and hate that transgender people are getting based on their gender identity.

They’re human beings and deserve an equal footing, respect, and love that each one of us deserves.

Social Media

Because of COVID-19, this year still has a lot of restrictions when it comes to mass gatherings. That is why the easiest way to show your support and to spread the message is via social media platforms.

It doesn’t matter which platform you signed up on. The most important thing is that your friends and followers will be able to see your advocacy and by then, they may follow suit.

There are plenty of creative ways to take part in the commemoration. Some of these are:

• Publish a musical session that’s dedicated to TDOR 2021
• Create a makeup tutorial inspired by the Transgender Day of Remembrance
• Do a TikTok slideshow to commemorate the trans people who died from violence within the last year
• Write a piece or share an article regarding how prone trans people are to transphobic violence
• Cite samples of unjust treatment towards trans people from news clippings
• Share the abuse or exclusion you’ve received in your life for being a trans person
• If you’re a cis individual, you can tag your transgender friend (if you have one) and write something about how adamant you are in protecting your friend
• Post a photo related to TDOR and write a caption about the special day
• Create a list of trans people who died from hate crimes in the past year and make it public

Online Events and Spreading Awareness

Plenty of TDOR 2021 events are available and you can simply join one. There are online concerts, benefits, marches, fundraisers, etc. But no matter where you are in the world, something will surely be readily available with just a click of a button.

• You may visit the websites of Trans Equality, APA.org, HRC.org, and more. Now, if you’re in the mood to organize one for yourself, you may simply do so by the following samples:
• Create a Zoom, Teams, or Skype conference and hold your event there. Some good ones are book readings, name readings, film discussions, news sharing, and concerts
• Coordinate with your colleagues regarding a TDOR online event to inform your company how hard it is for trans people to peacefully exist in a regressive society
• Write a blog post and share your thoughts about TDOR 2021. Seek out influencers who will be willing to share it. Find people who are trans advocates and compel them to share your post as well
• Have an open forum with your clique and guide them on why this day is significant

Face-to-face Events

Now, if you live in a place where mass gatherings are already safe, you may join events or organize them. Just remember, the goal of TDOR 2021 is to commemorate the lives of the trans people who lost their lives from transphobic violence.

Utmost respect for the dearly departed must be observed. The events that you should partake in or create should not be explicit or celebratory.

Some good examples of TDOR 2021 events are:

• Marches in cities where a lot of passersby will take notice
• A school or work event that will educate the masses of how trans people’s lives are still at risk even with the social support that they get in the media in 2021
• Art showcases with a collage of the trans people who died, paintings, and drawings are also very good
• Latest journals and articles can also be shared through a group discussion or reading
• A movie screening may also be done before the reading of the names of the trans people who died in the past year
• If you have media connections, you may upgrade your reach by offering to do talks or having your content shared by various publishers or networks

These are just some of the many things that you can do to participate in the Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021. No matter how small or big you think your action will be, you’ll still be part of creating much-needed change in the world.

Your duty as a human being is to protect your kind and with that being said, to protect every transgender person in the world.

Please share this guide and let your friends know that you’re part of #TDOR2021