Transgender Day of Remembrance

As with many days of remembrance, the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) was born from tragedy. In 1998, Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman, was murdered in her Boston apartment. Her death—one of hundreds of similar cases targeting transgender people simply for being who they are—sparked grief, outrage.

In 1999, transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith founded the first Transgender Day of Remembrance to honour Rita Hester’s life and to commemorate all transgender people lost to violence since her death.

“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.” — Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Founder of TDoR

Transgender and non-binary people remain among the most vulnerable members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. A 2018 Canadian study found that 59% of transgender and non-binary individuals reported experiencing physical or sexual assault after the age of 15—compared to 37% of cisgender individuals. Further, police-reported hate crimes based on gender identity or expression increased by 150% between 2020 and 2023. These statistics underscore that violence and discrimination remain pressing realities for many transgender Canadians.

TDoR serves to bring awareness to these ongoing issues and to honour the lives lost to such violence. Each year on 20 November communities around the world hold vigils and remembrance events, reading the names of those who have died and reaffirming the commitment to equality and respect for all. What started as a movement within the United States has since grown into a global observance, with events held in cities across more than 20 countries on six continents.

In Winnipeg, the 2025 TDoR event will take place at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on 20 November at 1730 CST. This gathering is a collaborative effort among Pride Winnipeg, Trans Manitoba, and the Rainbow Resource Centre, bringing together allies, advocates, and community members in a shared act of remembrance and solidarity.

However you choose to observe the Transgender Day of Remembrance, its enduring message is simple yet profound: we are all human. Regardless of gender, sexuality, race, or religion, we each have a responsibility to uphold the dignity, respect, and humanity of every person. Be kind to one another, and don’t be afraid to acknowledge and support those whose paths may be more difficult. In doing so, we strengthen the bonds that unite us as Canadians and as members of the Canadian Armed Forces—built on respect, integrity, and service to one another.