Friday marks 11th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance

This Friday, November 20th, marks the 11th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. The event is held to pay respect to those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence, as well as increase awareness within the community at large to this violence and the danger it holds for not only gender-variant individuals but those who share their lives. To date, 99 individuals worldwide have been murdered this year, either because they were transgendered, were involved with someone transgendered, or - perhaps most unsettling of all - were perceived to be transgendered by their attacker(s).

"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," says Gwendolyn Anne Smith on her website, RememberingOurDead.org.

With the violence against the community escalating at an alarming rate (2009's murders to date are more than twice that of 2008's), efforts to educate the public on this issue is a key step in reducing these senseless acts and preserving the dignity, safety and lives of all citizens. For more information, or to find a local event, please visit http://www.transgenderdor.org.