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This week on the show, we are honoring the Transgender Day of Remembrance by playing trans-positive music and interviewing Stuart, a FTM transgender guy. We hope that the information we put out on the airwaves this week will open people's minds and bring some understanding to the public on the transgender community and the violence many of them face.
To hear how our guest, Stuart, sounded before and after going through hormone therapy, visit his site: http://riotboy667.tripod.com/hi/
What is the Transgender Day of Remembrance?
The purpose of the Transgender Day of Remembrance is to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.
We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred-based violence. Yet even now, the deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. This trend shows no sign of abating.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence.
Links to resources for people who are questioning their gender identity, as well as friends and family members of trans people: