Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual community gathering to remember and celebrate our friends and loved ones lost to hate-crime violence and to raise awareness of the continuing violence against members of our communities. This year’s program will begin with a reading of the names of those who have been lost to violence.

The program will include remarks by Nellie Fitzpatrick, Mayor Michael Nutter's Director of LGBT Affairs. The names of the Trans* identified individuals who have lost their lives during the past year in acts of violence will be read and their memories honored with a candle lighting ceremony. Entertainment and light refreshments will conclude the program, which is free and open to the public.

Background:

The recent murders of Trans* women all across the United States and here in Philadelphia has clearly demonstrated that violence against the Trans* community continues unabated. For transgender individuals, and especially transgender women from minority backgrounds, the risk of violent attack is much higher and more deadly.

The ballot held in the city of Philadelphia on 11/03/15 affirmed that the city charter be amended to establish and define the functions of the Office of LGBT Affairs and be headed by a director (currently Nellie Fitzpatrick). Accordingly, the Trans* community can feel more secure in the certain knowledge that they will continue to have a committed individual to advocate for their interests, at the highest levels of city government