The Transgender Day of Remembrance, recognized across the globe on November 20, honors the countless transgender and gender non-conforming people who have been murdered because of their gender identity. In 1999, Gwendolyn Ann Smith created the Transgender Day of Remembrance to honor Rita Hester, a black transgender woman who was murdered in 1998, just a few days before she would have turned 35.
In the United States, at least 22 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been murdered so far this year. Worldwide, 311 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been murdered between October 2018 and September 2019, according to a new report from Trans Respect Versus Transphobia Worldwide.
When looking at these numbers, it’s important to remember that deaths (as well as violent attacks and discrimination) are often under-recorded. Why? A lack of hate crime designations and loopholes in reporting crime, to begin with. There’s also the reality that many marginalized people are legitimately afraid to report crimes committed against them (or, in death, community or family members are fearful of coming forward with gender identity details) because they dread revictimization, either from law enforcement, loss of employment, loss of housing, or deeply rooted transphobia.
Before we get into which 2020 Democrats have recognized Wednesday’s Day of Remembrance, let’s review why this day really does matter. In the United States, one in five transgender people report being discriminated against while seeking a home and more than one in ten reports being evicted because of their gender identity. Unsurprisingly, one in five transgender people reports being homeless at some point in their lives. It’s estimated that between 20 and 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ, with many identifying as transgender. Transgender youth are more likely to be bullied, sexually harassed, and eventually, to drop out of school without a diploma, when compared to their cisgender peers.
All of this is before we dig into the number of people who have been targeted and murdered because of their gender identity. This violence is a risk for any transgender or gender non-conforming person, but even under the transgender community umbrella, some people are particularly vulnerable. Transgender women of color and transgender sex workers, for example, are especially at risk of violence. For example, one-third of black transgender people who have interacted with law enforcement report harassment from police, with 15% reporting they experienced assault by officers. Disturbingly, the most vulnerable people are also the ones getting little mainstream media attention.
That’s why it’s particularly moving to see so many presidential candidates acknowledge this day. Here are the 2020 Democrats who have shown up on social media today.
More important than tweeting, of course, is what candidates have actually done to protect transgender people. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren have all co-sponsored the Equality Act, which would ban discrimination against LGBTQ people when it comes to employment, housing, federal programs, credit, and public accommodations. Of course, as covered at Daily Kos, the Trump administration opposes the Equality Act. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, an openly gay man and a veteran himself, has promised to reverse the Trump administration’s ban on openly transgender people serving in the military. It’s also worth reading up on the complex FOSTA-SESTA bill that while well-intentioned, has been devastating for some sex workers.
As always, it’s good to keep in mind that talking about transgender issues is great, but talk isn’t enough from an elected official. For example, while it’s been fantastic that so many candidates have used debate stage and forum time to reference (and sometimes name) the transgender people who have been killed this year alone, we need to push candidates beyond simple lip service. To really support transgender people, politicians—and the rest of us—must actually act.