Ira L. Black – Corbis / Getty Images
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), held annually on November 20th, is a day in which groups across the world gather to remember those who have been brutally murdered due to anti-trans violence. During this time, we also recognize the disproportionate impact of this violence on trans women of color.
The American Medical Association described the violence against the transgender community as an epidemic. Fatal transgender violence is on the rise and Black Trans* women are reported to be killed at higher numbers.
“Sadly, 2020 has already seen at least 34 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women”.
- 2020 marks the deadliest year for transgender people on record, surpassing the 27 people killed in all of 2019.
- HRC began tracking this data in 2013, advocates have never seen such a high number at this point in the year.
That number is likely even higher, “since many trans people killed by violence are misgendered by police and can be misreported in the media,” according to Sarah Kate Ellis, president of LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD.
“A June 2020 report from Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and Equality Florida found that 2018 saw a 41% increase in reported crimes directed against transgender individuals.
While just 16% of the trans population in the U.S. is estimated to be Black, 79% of known trans homicide victims were Black, the report showed.” [USA Today]
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