Transgender Day of Remembrance 2010

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2010

I cannot fathom the depth of depravity that causes one human being to kill another in such a brutal way. Of particular note is a 16 MONTH OLD INFANT!

I am sitting at my keyboard and I have finished crying for now. I will attend the memorial service here in Chicago, and I encourage everyone to participate in remembrance events in your area as well.

I have compiled this list from the Transgender Remembrance website:
http://www.transgenderdor.org/?page_id=4

I have just posted the cause of death and not the names, because in some cases no identification could be made.

And this is not a complete list, of course. In many cases, violent death is not reported as a transgender related death.

Nor does it include the incredibly longer list of those who have been assaulted, but lived.

Nor does it show any female to male assaults and murders, such as being "raped straight".

Nor does it show the casual acceptance of discrimination and hate toward the trans community.

Cause of Death: Burned to death
Cause of Death:Shot in the head
Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma to the head.
Cause of Death: Shot in the chest and the forehead
Cause of Death: Wong had stab wounds in the right side of the stomach and left side of the chest plus bruises in the right hand.
Cause of Death: Many wounds and defensive bruises.
Cause of Death: Stabbed to death
Cause of Death: Stabbed 17 times
Cause of Death:Stabbed and left in roadside dump
Cause of Death: Strangled
Cause of Death: dismembered and mutilated
Cause of Death: Beheaded
Cause of Death: shot to death
Cause of Death: Stabbed to death
Cause of Death: Shot in the back of the head
Cause of Death: Shot in the head
Cause of Death: Raped and shot 3 times
Cause of Death: Strangled with an electrical cord
Cause of Death:Shot in the chest
Cause of Death: Punched repeatedly and grabbed by the neck
Date of Death: August 1, 2010
Roy was 16 Months old.
Note: 20 year old Pedro Jones told police he had struck the infant several times with a closed fist. Jones said he was “trying to make him act like a boy instead of a little girl.”
Cause of Death: shot
Cause of Death: shot to death
Cause of Death shot
Cause of Death shot in the head
Cause of Death shot in the head
Cause of Death Drowned in her apartment
Cause of Death unreported by police
Cause of Death Brutally tortured and burned
Cause of Death Brutally tortured and burned


We cannot forget. We can never forget. And if a time comes that this list has no entries, we will still remember.

Transgender Day of Remembrance - Chicago

Transgender Day of Remembrance - Chicago

Last night, Pat and I attended the Transgender Day of Remembrance here in Chicago at the Center on Halsted.

It was held on the third floor roof. It was a chill evening and, perhaps appropriately, and a cold bitter snow started just after we gathered outside.

There were many speakers and one of the honored speakers was Diane Schroer, who had just recently won a precedent setting case of discrimination against the Library of Congress.

In her speech, she asked, "Who Speaks for the Dead". Her answer was the WE speak for the dead. All of us. Those of us that come out of the closet, who take the first hesitating steps to become our true selves. Those of us that have completely transitioned. And even those of us who take a stealth path. We all stand for the dead. We all speak for those who have had their voices silenced through bigotry, hate, and anger.

We have in many ways become less sensationalized and are less fodder for the likes of Jerry Springer and are now given more of an open forum by the likes of Oprah and Barbara Walters to show the world that we our struggle is not a tawdry thrill but a life affirming quest.

But we are still vulnerable to hate and ignorance. And last night was a memorial to those whose quest had come to an end.

Once the speeches were over, the names of the honored dead were read.

On that rooftop deck, there were 24 chairs, each with a blood red candle burning on it. Each name was read along with the date and method of their death. As each name was read, the candle was extinguished and a bell was tolled.

For me, it was a knife to the heart for each peeling of the bell. Particularly hard was hearing the name of Lawrence King, the 14 year old, who was shot by a classmate because Lawrence had asked him to be his valentine.

Once the vigil was over we returned to the building. Pat held me as I wept.

It was a moving event for me. I hope that one day that it will be no longer be necessary to have such a vigil.

-Sandy