Trans Day of Remembrance 2019
On Trans Day of Remembrance we honor the memory of those whose lives were lost due to anti-trans violence, oppression and trauma.
This year, there have been at least 311 (reported) murders of trans and gender diverse people globally, not including those who have died by suicide. A significant majority were bipoc trans women or gnc/nb femme-spectrum people.
"The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people—sometimes in the most brutal ways possible—it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice." —Transgender Day of Remembrance Founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith
There are moments we celebrate and show gratitude for resilience and other times we sit in remembrance of great losses and anger around injustices. For our trans/gnc/nb clients our role is multifaceted as we often serve as the only place all pieces can exist simultaneously.
It's crucial for us, as therapists, to understand the importance of our role and come to sessions with a deep sense of awareness and intention.
Here are a few questions and writing prompts for therapists:
How do you honor the many faces of resilience?
How do you create a space for meaningful remembrance?
How do you facilitate a process for grieving in sessions?
Carrying your own identities, what does it look like for you to explore the intersectionality of client identities in a session?
In what ways do you create space for the often complicated feelings of loss and mourning?
To our trans siblings: we love you and are here for you.
To our cis siblings striving to be trans allies: speak up for us, fight for us, value our lives, pay us for our labor, give us jobs, give us housing, care about our health and mental health, unlearn and challenge transphobia and cis supremacy, take our trainings, donate to our organizations, and support trans led organizations working with and for trans folks.
Mourn the dead and fight for the living.
If you are feeling affected by TDOR or this post, please contact your local helpline. For the US and Canada check out @translifeline @theequalityinstitute
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