For Transgender Day of Remembrance, I went to the City of West Hollywood’s event and talked to some of the community and those elected to serve about what TDoR means to them, what they’re doing to fight for the living, and what we can do every day.
What does TDoR mean to you?
Alexis Sanchez, Vice Chair of the West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board
I try to only speak to my own experience and my very first TDoR was the thing that sprung me into advocacy — sitting in a room with community and just recognizing the challenges that we face and the hatred that’s out there for us. My first TDoR made me say, ‘ya know I want to be an advocate and I want to work towards normalizing trans identities so this list gets shorter and shorter every single year.’ Aside from that, it’s a really great chance to meet other members from the community and every now and then I can connect with someone and either I’ve been where you’re at or you’ve been where I’m at and it’s okay and we’ll be okay.
Jaye Johnson, Chair of the West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board
TDoR is really about highlighting the lives that were taken through violence and to pay tribute to those people. It’s a time for our community to mourn and then celebrate the life that is still here and for allies to really see how our community is impacted by violence in such a very powerful way.
What can allies do everyday?
Alexis Sanchez
My favorite thing that has been circulating on the internet today is give a flower to those of us that are still here. It’s helping to advocate for us to have access to services or even just flowers or a little bit of love here and there. I think as a trans person I never realized how marginalized I would feel, how everyday I’m stressed out about whether I’m going to get looks at the supermarket or trying to get on the bus so any moment of kindness I receive is so healing and recharging.
Aubrey Sassoon
Fight like hell for the living basically, as the rallying cry goes. Support trans people especially trans people of color living their lives. Help trans people survive in society in such a difficult political atmosphere.
To the elected, what are you doing in West Hollywood to protect the trans community?
John Heilman, Mayor of West Hollywood:
We have a transgender advisory board — they work closely with our sheriff’s department and other agencies. We have this day and we have series of programs geared towards the community.
Karina Samala, Transgender Advisory Board Member:
My community is my family. I always encourage them because we have gone through so much discrimination. Chosen family is so important. People call me ‘Mother Karina,’ because I try to help them and fight for the community. We were the first municipal area to have a separate transgender advisory board from the LGBTQ advisory board. We advise the city and the city council and all the agencies on issues concerning the transgender community specifically.
The Program
Alma Rose (Two Spirit Mexica Aztecca) leads the room in a Ceremonial Blessing to open the space
Jayy Dodd performing a personal piece
Poet Jade Phoenix read a piece about Rage, and noted that she has had to change the death toll 12 times since starting the piece earlier in the year.
Jazzmun performing a musical piece
Keynote Speaker Reyna Ripper talked about being shot in Puerto Rico, and the pain of recovery, and then the reality of recovering during Hurricane Maria.
Reading of the names
I love the color of the photos-very somber. Thanks for covering this.
Thank you for sharing this. I really hope the advisory board is being listen to because I’ve been thrown out of a gay bar in WeHo for just using the facility, while yelling I am trans and not a dude.
I can’t begin to conceptualise just how difficult living your life can be when you’re Trans. The work that you all contribute to doing to bring real equality to Trans lives is necessary, courageous and very special work. Thank You all for your efforts.
Thank you, Molly. :)
Somber photos but with a very reaffirming energy of hope and perseverance. Happy to hear the event was smooth and can only continue to hope that those who are laid to rest are resting in power, and peace.