Last Thursday, November 20, marked the tenth anniversary of the recognition of International Transgender Day of Remembrance.  The day was originally conceived following the violent murder of Rita Hester in Boston.  The negative media coverage and police treatment of the Hester case — which remains unsolved to this day — prompted the outcry from the LGBT community.  The day is recognized through candlelit vigils and rallies held all around the world.

Please take a moment to read the names and stories of those who are no longer with us following the last year.

I think it is important to think about the many -isms and -phobias stacked up against the transgender community, inarguably one of the most vulnerable groups of human beings on this planet.  Sexism, racism, classism and homophobia are just four of the main ingredients of transphobia.  Listed at the link above are the names of our brothers and sisters who have fallen victim to hate.  These murders are usually unsolved and often directly involve police brutality or indifference.

It pains me inside to know that we live in a world where people are still killed, everyday, simply for being different.  Surely, one day, we will evolve past hatred toward understanding?  Not as long as faces like Mike Huckabee are condoned for their homophobic and short-sighted statements on national television, as seen below in an interview on The View last week, just two days after a trans woman was killed in Syracuse.  (This man denies evolution, too… and he was quite nearly a presidential candidate for this country?!)

Stand up and be counted as a transgender ally, because everyone deserves justice and an equal chance at happiness.