Thoughts on the 2009 Hampton Roads Transgender Day of Remembrance

Thank you to everyone who supported the Transgender community in Hampton Roads, around the state of Virginia and throughout the world.

A special thank you goes to our sponsors who contributed time, talents and money. Without the support of ACCESS AIDS Care, Hampton Roads Pride, New Life MCC of Hampton Roads, Rainbow Bridge Connection and Tidewater Aids Community Taskforce, the 2009 Hampton Roads Transgender Day of Remembrance would not have been possible.

Last night, thirty five people participated in a candle lit march honoring the 121 Transgender people murdered in 2009. The march proceeded for three city blocks along a busy avenue across the street from city subsidized housing complex. This route was intentional as many of our Transgender siblings are sex workers in this area and are subject to the same sort of acts of random violence as those ancestors being honored.

The march stopped at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial where our ancestor's names were read. After the reading we marched back to our organizing spot and proceeded to the wonderful post march reception at the Tidewater Aids Community Taskforce offices. It must be noted the executive directors and their seconds of both aids service organizations, Rainbow Bridge Connection and New Life MCC were present and showing total support. One of the afore mentioned even brought her young daughter to experience the march and meet some of the people her mom helps.

One thing was very disappointing but not surprising. There are several local and state wide organizations who say they are fully inclusive. They have the T in their LGB mission statements and in some cases in the organization's title. They were no where to be seen. No need to mention names. You know who you are.

If you are not going to support Transgender people on this important day then please take the T out of your mission statements and your alphabet soup titles. The Transgender population will respect you more even if we do not agree with your actions or lack thereof.