Since the murder of Rita Hester, a Black Transgender woman in November of 1998, the Transgender community has observed Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20th every year. Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender Advocate, started TDOR in honor of her friend.

We encourage you and your communities of faith to observe TDOR, whether it’s something you’ve done before or something brand new. Seek out existing events or opportunities to collaborate with other members of your community, through your ecumenical or interfaith partnerships, educational institutions, and local LGBTQIA+ community leaders. Acknowledge the event during worship on Sunday, 11/19. Hymns from Songs for the Holy Other that would be appropriate are For those who suffered, I shall not leave from your side, Love’s rage and grief or Rest in Power.

Available to all our congregations, ministers, and community partners, Room for All’s Guide for Transgender Day of Remembrance is free to download and print in single page format and spread format. This guide includes an overview of TDOR, suggestions for creating truly safe spaces for transgender and non-binary people, optional prayers, resources for trans justice and information about the Reading of the Names. Also included are these bulletin inserts that are free to use and reproduce.

Click these links to download the full size versions of the candle insert and the list of names.

A copy of the list of names of lives lost in 2023 is here, from the Remembering Our Dead project. The list of names has been simplified, but a comprehensive list is available through the ROD project that contains links to the profiles of each person. Visiting those links or the project site will give you the details of each death, and may be disturbing.

In lieu of our own observance, this year we’re joining our partners and friends at Transmission Ministry Collective for their virtual prayer service. They’ll be live on their YouTube channel on Monday, November 20th at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern to read the names and remember the stories of those who have died from interpersonal violence, and number them among the great cloud of witnesses who encourage us toward justice.