Trigger Warning: this article discusses extreme gender-based violence and death. Reader’s discretion is advised.
Drew University’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance and Women’s Concerns theme house, came together to hold a vigil in the Ehinger Center’s 1867 Lounge to mark this year’s annual Trans Day of Remembrance in honor of the many transgender lives lost each year to prejudice and hate-based violence. The event was held from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Nov. 20 and included snacks. Trans flags and flags of other LGBTQIA communities were also distributed.
Chairs were arranged in a large circle in the middle of the lounge, and as participants filed in, organizers explained the premise of the event. Victoria Vermilye (‘25) warned those in attendance that the topics to be discussed would be extremely heavy, and encouraged stepping away for a small break if they felt overwhelmed.
Once the vigil started, students designated as “readers” read off the names of over 350 people who identified with the LGBTQIA community who have been killed or lost to suicide this year. The list, organized on a website known as TransLivesMatter.info, details information of those who died from Oct. 1, 2023, until Sep. 30, 2024. It includes the names, death dates, causes/categories of death, ages, locations, pictures of the victims and goes into detail about the person’s life and legacy in individual obituaries.
It is important to note that there are potentially hundreds or thousands more deaths than included in this figure that have not been reported – possibly because of abduction, repression, lack of resources, or other factors – and so the actual death toll is likely higher.
Students Vermilye, Eva Woolard (‘26), Casper Orr (‘27), Murphy Fonseca (‘27), Cass Perez (‘27) and Alice Holway (‘25) served as readers. Only names were read off the list in order to remain sensitive to their legacies. The tone in the room remained somber throughout the event as participants listened to each name read aloud and took in the magnitude of the death toll victim by victim. After names were read, a period of silence was observed to honor the lives of those lost whose identities still remain unknown.
After the event, Vermilye and other participants expressed anger and sadness that this vigil was necessary. Vermilye highlighted that the very fact that there are victims whose names must be read is a telling byproduct of the extreme injustices and violence against LGBTQIA people that continue to be widely committed by many around the globe.
The organizers emphasized that the community still has a very long road to acceptance and that society as a whole must collectively take action against gender and sexuality-based discrimination for meaningful changes to be made.
The full list of victims is available at tdor.translivesmatter.info. Please use extreme caution when visiting the website as it goes into detail about cause and nature of death. If you start to become overwhelmed, please exit the site and prioritize your mental health.
If you are struggling with mental health, you are not alone. Drew’s Counseling Department offers free sessions which can be scheduled by contacting counseling@drew.edu. If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “HOME” to 741-741 or the National Suicide & Crisis Hotline by calling or texting 988. If you are being targeted because of your identity or sexuality, help is also available – please contact Trans Lifeline at (877) 565-8860, the LGBT National Help Center at (888) 843-4564 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233. If you feel that you are currently in active danger, please call 911.
Sabr Keres-Siddiqui is a sophomore majoring in sociology, minoring in journalism/journalist advocacy.
Featured image courtesy of Pexels.com.
