Thursday, November 20
6:00 – 9:00 pm
1619 Prospect St.
$5-10 for Materials
This Trans Day of Remembrance, the Fonseca-Du Bois Gallery invites you to a solemn evening of remembrance, reflection, and recommitment. We gather to honor the lives of transgender siblings stolen by violence and to transform our grief into purposeful action.
The statistics are a chilling reminder of the epidemic we face. Since 2013, at least 335 transgender and gender-expansive individuals have been violently killed in the United States. The crisis is starkly racialized: in the last year alone, 69% of known victims were Black transgender women, and 16% were Latina transgender women. Trans people are often targeted and harassed by police and nearly one third of trans people are homeless. Behind these numbers are people—friends, partners, artists, and community members—whose lives were cut short by bigotry and violence.
But this is more than a moment of mourning; it is a call to build a world where such violence is unthinkable.
What to Expect:
- A Community altar-building ritual: We will collectively build a sacred altar to honor our lost siblings. Everyone is encouraged to bring a photograph, a letter, a poem, a flower, or a small memento to add to this living memorial. Your contribution will help ensure their names and spirits are remembered with love and dignity.
- Stories, not statistics: We will hear from community speakers who will share personal reflections, moving beyond the numbers to celebrate the vibrant lives we have lost and confront the reality of the violence that plagues our community.
- A dialogue for protection: Following the remembrance, we will hold a community discussion focused on a single, urgent question: “How do we protect the trans community now?” We will discuss tangible steps we can all take, from supporting local trans-led organizations to challenging discrimination in our daily lives, to create a safer, more just world for all trans people.
We gather not only in sorrow but in solidarity. Let us honor the past by fiercely protecting the future. Together, we can recommit ourselves to building a world free from violence, where every transgender person can live safely, openly, and with joy.
This event is open to all who wish to stand in solidarity with the transgender community.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Photo description: Altar from Trans Day of Remembrance 2024 Credit: Indianapolis Liberation Center.