The International Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is held in local communities and campuses across the nation to memorialize those who have been killed due to anti-transgender bigotry. Many victims of anti-transgender violence have been invisible in their communities and attackers not often brought to justice. The 20th Annual TDOR brings together communities to mourn and honor victims of anti-transgender hate crimes and as a call to action towards the respect of all people regardless of gender identity or expression.
There have been at least 20 murders of trans people in the United States this year. The Human Rights Campaign has a list online here with additional information on the lives and murders of those who were killed in the past year that you can read at your vigil or event.
In Pennsylvania, we mourn and remember Shantee Tucker, 30, who was murdered in Philadelphia on September 5, 2018. In 2016, Maya Young was 25 when she was stabbed to death in Philadelphia. In 2015, Pennsylvania mourned London Chanel, 21, and Kiesha Jenkins, 22, both black trans women who were killed in Philadelphia. In July 2013, another young trans woman, Diamond Williams, was brutally murdered in Philadelphia. There have been at least 22 slayings of transgender people in the United States – who are named in the image above.
There have been countless slayings of transgender people because of their identity around the world since last year. The TDOR website memorializes the murders of over many of the transgender individuals we are aware of in this past year around the world.
Nearly two dozen organized vigils will be held in communities throughout the commonwealth for TDOR in recent years. This was a large increase from just a few events held in Pittsburgh and Southeastern Pennsylvania before 2013.
November is also Transgender Awareness Month, and November 12-19, 2018 is Trans Awareness Week. Many communities are not just mourning those lost to violence, but celebrating and lifting up the lives of transgender people. There are wonderful educational and community events set to take place throughout Pennsylvania. Several student organizations are holding Transgender Awareness Weeks. Trans Day of Visibility is annually on March 31st.
For the seventh year, PYC provides an online listing of Trans Day of Remembrance/Resilience events across the commonwealth.
Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigils in Pennsylvania
November 20th, 2018
*Unless Otherwise Noted*
Bethlehem
Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley (1401 Greenview Drive), November 19th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Lehigh Valley Transgender Renaissance, Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley
More Information
Carlisle
Dickinson College (Social Hall West), November 20th, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Host: Dickinson College LGBTQ Services
More Information
Collegeville
Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (3424 Ridge Pike), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
More Information
Erie
Erie County Courthouse (140 West 6th Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: TransFamily of NWPA
More Information
Harrisburg
Vigil: Pennsylvania State Capitol – Main Steps (3rd and State Streets), November 20th, 5:30pm – 6:45pm
Host: TransCentral PA
More Information
Trans Day of Remembrance Healing Space: The LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania (1306 North 3rd Street), November 20th, 5:00pm – 8:30pm
More Information
Lancaster
Lancaster City Hall (120 North Duke Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Supported: Lancaster City Human Relations Commission
More Information
Lancaster
Franklin & Marshall College (Writers House), November 19th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: SAGA
More Information
Philadelphia
Not One More: Rally and Silent March: Starts at Dilworth Plaza (1 South 15th Street), November 20th, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Host: The Trans Equity Project – a program of GALAEI
More Information
TDoR Memorial Service: William Way LGBT Community Center (1315 Spruce Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: William Way LGBT Community Center
More Information
Pittsburgh
Persad (5301 Butler Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: TransPride Pittsburgh and Persad
More Information
Reading
Calvary United Church of Christ (640 Centre Avenue), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Host: Reading Pride Celebration
More Information
State College
Penn State University (Eisenhower Chapel), November 13th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Penn State LGBTA Student Resource Center
More Information
Washington
First Presbyterian Church (100 East Wheeling Street), November 19th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Washington County GSA, Inc.
More Information
West Chester
Unitarian Congregation of West Chester (501 South High Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Hosts: LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County and Unitarian Congregation of West Chester
More Information
Wilkes-Barre
Unity of NEPA (140 South Grant Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Hosts: Queer NEPA and Action Together Northeastern PA
More Information
York
Union Lutheran Church of York (408 West Market Street), November 21st, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: Union Lutheran Church of York
More Information
November 2018 Transgender Awareness Events
Philadelphia: GenderTalk
Penn LGBT Center (3907 Spruce Street), November 16th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Penn Non-Cis
More Information
Philadelphia: Trans Equity Project Presents: Trans Awareness Week
GALAEI (149 West Susquehanna Avenue), November 15th – November 20th
Host: GALAEI
Thursday, November 15th, Opening Reception: Dinner & Trans Youth Panel, 5pm – 8pm
Friday, November 16th, Trans Cinema: Holiday Heart, 5pm – 8pm
Sunday, November 18th, Everything Starts with a DREAM: A Dreamcatcher making Party!, 5pm – 8pm
Monday, November 19th, Clothing Drive: Donate, Swap or Just Fill a Bag!, 5pm – 8pm
More Information
Pittsburgh: Trans Voices VI: A RE:Vival (the performance)
TBA, November 25th, 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Garden of Peace Project
More Information
State College: Penn State Trans Visibility Month
Penn State University
Host: Penn State LGBTA Student Resource Center
Friday, November 2, 2018 — LGBTQA Student Resource Center Clothing Transit Open House, 2:30 – 4:30 PM, 24 Ritenour
Wednesday, November 7, 2018, Faculty & Staff: Transgender & Gender Inclusion 101 Workshop, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, HUB – 233B
Wednesday, November 7, 2018, “Genderqeueer? Demisexual? You don’t need a label”, Keynote Speaker: Jeffrey Marsh, 6:00 pm, HUB-Flex Theater
Thursday, November 15, 2018, LGBTQA Student Resource Center: Clothing Transit Fashion Show, 6:00 pm, HUB-Alumni Hall
More Information
If you would like to add your event to this page, please email us at info@payouthcongress.org.
