APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The orange glow of dozens of candles lit Houdini Plaza Wednesday evening in honor of “Trans Day of Remembrance.”
“Trans youth and trans adults who feel like they have nothing left. I hope they can see us and see that they have people they can go to,” said Drew Thibodeaux, Hate Free Outagamie education and research committee member.
“Trans Day of Remembrance” began in 1999 in honor of Rita Hester, a trans woman who was murdered in Massachusetts the year before. It is celebrated every year on November 20 as a way to honor the deceased and show solidarity with the trans community.
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According to the Human Rights Campaign, 36 transgender people have been murdered since the last Trans Day of Remembrance. During the event Wednesday evening at Houdini Plaza, an organizer read all of these names during a solemn ceremony as attendees held candles.
Research from UCLA’s Williams Institute estimates that approximately 1.6 million people ages 13 and older identify as transgender in the United States. Researchers at the school also found that transgender people are about four times more likely than their cisgender counterparts to be victims of violence.
“Trans youth and trans adults who feel like they have nothing left. I hope they can see us and see that they have people they can go to,” Thibodeaux said.
It was a solemn event, but organizers said they hope attendees felt something different.
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“But I also know that there will be hope because people are coming together and saying that we stand with our trans brothers and sisters and that we have the ability to do something,” said the Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave, who represents Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship works. church in Appelton. “So there will be tears and sadness, but there will also be hope to build the kind of community we need.”
Speakers at the event said the LGBTQ community is deeply concerned about the new Trump administration and believes they will see a rollback of their rights. They also expressed frustrations with the Biden administration, saying Democrats have not done enough to protect them over the past four years.
The speakers also announced a call to action for the community. They said they are currently collecting petitions to make Outagamie County a “trans sanctuary,” which organizers say would create a safe haven for trans individuals and their families amid increasing anti-trans legislation.
“I want it to be loud and clear that transgender and non-binary people are welcome here in our community and that they matter and that their futures are worth fighting for and their dreams,” said Roberts Villnave.
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