Colorado remembers slain transgender people on annual Transgender Day of Remembrance
DENVER — Tears flowed down faces and candles illuminated palms as transgender Denverites shared memories, triumphs and struggles for Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Transgender activist Gwendolynn Ann Smith hosted the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1999. Ceremonies typically include speeches and art from transgender activists, as well as a candle-lit ceremony in which attendees read the names of transgender people killed in the United States over the last year.
“I think it’s important for us to remember that there is a deep and systemic violence that trans and gender-diverse folks experience that also has a negative impact on our lives, and those often don’t get reported or remembered,” said Sable Schultz, manager of transgender programs at the Center on Colfax. “These are forms of systemic violence, specifically targeting folks because of their gender expression or gender identity.”
At a ceremony hosted by Rise Up Trans Rights Network — a Denver-based trans activist group — event organizers chose not to read names of slain transgender people, as attendees said the tradition can be traumatizing and bleak. Instead, the network displayed performances from three transgender-led bands at Seventh Circle Music Collective, a DIY music venue in West Denver. Free clothing and food were also available for attendees.
“It’s very upsetting knowing the people we’ve lost and why, especially because a lot of them were hate crimes and people killed by family and friends, which is really sad,” said Raika Sailing, an event organizer. “It’s both sad and also it inspires you to keep living and being yourself.”
Raika Sailing sports trans-affirming pins at the Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony at Seventh Circle Music Collective, which he helped organize.
Photo: Elle Naef, Rocky Mountain PBS
In 2023, state legislators across 49 states introduced nearly 600 anti-transgender bills, according to Trans Legislation Tracker. Of the 586 bills, 85 passed, 125 failed and 376 are still active.
Violence against transgender and gender-diverse people has also increased the alongside hateful laws and rhetoric. The Human Rights Campaign reported at least 26 transgender people died by violence in 2023, though the number is usually underreported.
Though Colorado has touted itself as a safe haven for transgender people and has passed a series of laws cutting red tape for accessing gender-affirming healthcare, activists in the state worry that a 2024 presidential shift could put Colorado’s safety laws at risk.
Two people comfort each other during a ceremony at The Center on Colfax for Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Photo: Elle Naef, Rocky Mountain PBS
“There’s always the possibility that some of these laws could be overturned. For laws which have specific protections in place, if they’re not enforced or not followed up upon, it just sort of sits there,” Schultz said.
“It’s really important for folks that are protecting our rights and rights of all people to get involved, get our voices heard, build networks, build communities.”
For several event attendees, showing their authentic selves felt like an important form of resistance against hate.
“Getting up every day and living our lives is resistance against the rest of the world that doesn’t want us to be here,” Sailing said. “It’s both sad and also it inspires you to keep living and being yourself.”
Alison Berg is a reporter at Rocky Mountain PBS. alisonberg@rmpbs.org
Elle Naef is a multimedia producer at Rocky Mountain PBS. ellenaef@rmpbs.org.