Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20th, 2020 was Transgender Day of Remembrance, which was a day dedicated to transgender people whose lives had been lost. Unfortunately, many members of the transgender community face significant discrimination and have been victims of violence and hate crimes. This day serves as a memorial to transgender indivuduals who have been killed as a result of such acts of violence, as well as those who have committed suicide.
Each year, members of Massapequa High School’s Gay and Straight Alliance (GSA) observes this day by wearing black clothing, wearing black ribbons, and setting up a table with a list of victims who died. Information about the day itself, as well as definitions of transgender and similar terms, are also provided. The GSA also honors those who had died by releasing balloons with the names of the victims written on them. Due to COVID-19, the table setup and balloon release could not occur, but members still recognized the day. “Transgender Day of Remembrance is an important day to the LGBT community, especially the transgender community, because they are often overlooked,” says Laura Philbin, the president of the GSA. “They are the target of violent crimes at disproportionate rates and they are also more likely to attempt suicide due to hate from family, friends, and society as a whole. We should use this day to reflect upon the lives lost and to reflect on our own actions and attitudes towards the transgender community.”
Sadly, transphobia (discrimination and hostility toward transgender people) still exists. But there are ways to help combat it. Making sure to support and accept transgender peers, as well as respecting their pronouns, is incredibly important. Showing support toward organizations such as the Trevor Project and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network) is also a way to help people in need. An additional way to help is to use resources such as the aforementioned organizations to become more educated about the LGBT+ community and problems that individuals in the community face.
Working together in order to make the world a more accepting place is crucial, and it all starts with promoting equality and acceptance for everyone.

 

0.00 avg. rating (0% score) - 0 votes