Transgender Day of Remembrance 2011

The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) memorializes individuals who have been killed throughout the world in the previous year because of anti-transgender hatred.

US Dept. of Justice Statement
US Sec'y of Labor Statement

Wednesday, Nov 16

Greenfield TDOR

Generation Q and TREE (Trans Rights, Education and Empowerment) of Community Action Youth Programs and New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT) are hosting their third annual Trans Day of Remembrance on the Town Common, followed by a reception at NELCWIT's Main Street office.

6:00 - 7:00 Candlelight vigil and procession
7:00 - 8:00 Reception at NELCWIT (light refreshments provided)
Please contact us at GenQ@communityaction.us or 413-774-7028 x5.

Thursday, Nov 17

Greater Lowell Observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance

6:30PM starting in front of the Lowell City Hall. We will hold a prayer (UU) and launch a candlelight vigil from there and walk to the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center, where we will have speakers and hold a reception for the event. The event is being organized by the Greater Lowell LGBTQ Taskforce.

Any questions please contact Daniel Basil Hamilton at Daniel@centerforhopehealing.org

Friday, Nov 18

Springfield Transgender Day of Remembrance

6 p.m., Baystate Health Cafeteria, 3300 Main St., Springfield
Sponsored by UniTy of the Pioneer Valley.

Saturday, Nov 19

Concord, NH Transgender Day of Remembrance

Vigil at 5 p.m., reception at 6 p.m.

Location: South Congregational Church, UCC
  27 Pleasant St.
  Concord, NH 03301

Sponsored by the NH Coalition for Transgender Equality

Sunday, Nov 20

Northampton Transgender Day of Remembrance

5:30 p.m., First Churches, 129 Main St., Northampton
A candlelight march will proceed to the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence for a speak-out and reception. Sponsored by First Churches, the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, the LGBT Coalition of Western Massachusetts, and the Stonewall Center.
Help is needed in planning, bringing drinks or baked goods for the reception, candle-lighting and ushering. For more information, email northamptontdor 'at' gmail.com.

Boston TDOR

4 pm, Cathedral of St Paul, 138 Tremont St (at Park St T stop), Boston
Event planning & more info
Our annual observance, with inspirational speakers, community SpeakOut, candlelight vigil, and hot apple cider, hot food and camaraderie afterwards.

Press Release (PDF) -- Flyer

Sponsor Boston's TDOR Event

Worcester TDOR Interfaith Service

Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden St.

Please join us 7:30-8:30 pm in the Sanctuary, with informal discussion to follow in the Lounge. This memorial service honors those who lost their lives as a result of anti-transgender discrimination and violence. We will share music, spiritual readings, the reading of the names of the dead, and conversation about how to shape a world that embraces all of who we are. For more information, please contact Peter Ringo at plcfreeman@yahoo.com or Amy Mason at amason1980@yahoo.com.

Provincetown TDOR Service

The Unitarian Universalist Meeting House in Provincetown is holding a Remembrance Day service during its Sunday morning service which begins at 11 am at the UU Meeting House on Commercial Street in Provincetown.

Twelve years ago at this time, Boston's LGBT community recoiled in horror at the discovery of the latest victim of transphobic violence. Rita Hester, a popular figure in the local rock 'n roll scene, who also happened to be a transsexual, had been found brutally stabbed to death in her Brighton apartment. Like so many killings of gay and transgender persons, the victim was subjected to enough brutality to kill her many times over.

A local community of queer activists, rockers, family, friends and allies -- over 250 of them -- came together and held a speak-out and candlelight vigil in Rita's honor, forming a human stream of light winding its way through Rita's old Allston stomping grounds.

One year later, a memorial vigil was held in San Francisco; the following year Boston and a few other cities joined in, and this year hundreds of observances will be held in dozens of countries.

Boston's transgender community remembers local victims Chanelle Pickett, Debra Forte, Monique Thomas, Georgette Hart, Denise Pugliesi, Monique Rogers, Lisa Daniels, CJ Garber, and Rita Hester. There have been many more, mostly uncounted and unnoticed by all but their friends and family.