We #SayTheirNames Today, Tomorrow, and Until We All Are Free

Positive Women’s Network – USA Recommits to Trans Rights, Safety, and Justice on Trans Day of Remembrance and Resilience

November 20, 2018: Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien. Viccky Gutierrez. Zakaria Fry. Celine Walker. Tonya Harvey. Phylicia Mitchell. Amia Tyrae Berryman. Sasha Wall. Karla Patricia Flores-Pavón. Nino Fortson. Gigi Pierce. Antash’a English. Diamond Stephens. Catalina Christina James. Keisha Wells. Sasha Garden. Dejanay Stanton. Vontashia Bell. Shantee Tucker. London Moore. Nikki Enriquez. Ciara Minaj Carter Frazier. Roxana Hernandez. Jessie Sumlar. We remember you. We honor you.

At least 22 transgender or gender non-conforming people (TGNC) have been murdered in the U.S. in 2018. The actual number is likely higher, since law enforcement and reporters often misgender victims—denying them dignity even in death. 18 of the 22 killed in 2018 were trans women of color—further confirmation that race, gender, and immigration status intersect to magnify vulnerability.

The interpersonal and systemic violence faced by TGNC people does not happen in a vacuum. With a president who gained power by stoking hate and division against anyone who is other than white, cisgender, heterosexual, Christian, and conservative, and who dehumanizes entire communities on a daily basis through rhetoric and action, such violence is unsurprising–but no less appalling. Hate crimes spiked by 17% in 2017, the third year in a row that reported hate crimes have increased. And even that statistic is likely an underestimate, considering that only 13% of the law enforcement agencies contributing to the FBI’s crime data collection reported any hate crimes. Some jurisdictions where documented hate crimes were perpetrated reported none at all.

In addition to murder, state violence and neglect leave even more of our TGNC siblings vulnerable. Roxana Hernandez, a Honduran woman of trans experience who died of HIV-related pneumonia in ICE custody, is just one striking example of an unnecessary death that could have been prevented if our government and society had only treated her as a human being worthy of protection.

But last month, a leaked memo draft revealed the Trump administration’s plan to erase transgender people from legal existence by designating sex across federal agencies as “either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with.” Such a move, besides further complicating the already difficult lives of TGNC people trying to work, travel, find stable housing, drive a car, vote, or even just use a public restroom, would also sanction further interpersonal violence.

Positive Women’s Network – USA is committed to fighting this and every instance of systemic violence against our trans siblings. TGNC people are crucial, beloved members of our community: our friends, neighbors, colleagues, family members, partners. As long as people of trans experience are not safe to live authentically, openly, and with respect and dignity, our work will not be complete. Learn more about our commitments to trans rights, safety, and justice, and our recommendations for advocates, here.

Today, as we mourn those taken too soon by hate, violence, fear, and ignorance, we lift up all who are still with us. You are not alone. We love you, we value you, and we will stand with you.


Illustrations above courtesy of Forward Together. See more here.