Trans people and allies are coming together on Trans Day of Remembrance to grieve losses and celebrate successes

By Oliver Robbins

On Nov. 20, The 519 held a very warm and beautiful ceremony for the 25th annual commemoration of Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) with hosts Pink Angel, an elder trans woman of colour and Pride Toronto’s Rainbow Senior Ambassador, alongside Ocean Ruel, a Black trans teen activist and 519 community member. This year’s theme was “grieving the past to protect our future” which highlighted many local trans elders and youth.

TDOR is a particularly tender day for all trans folks and allies alike since it initially started as an effort to commemorate and remember the violent loss of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman whose murder remains unsolved, as Ruel emphasized during a speech. 

Throughout the night, the presence of every performer and guest preserved the mellow intimacy of the space and it made for an event that was gleaming with love and pride. With the ceremony spotlighting an extraordinary number of trans, two-spirit and gender-diverse people of colour, it emphasized the intersectionality contained in the trans community. Eminently, BIPOC speakers addressed the discrimination unique to them and their kin and most of all towards Black and Indigenous trans folks. 

“TDOR is a reminder to honour the lives that have been lost. To say their names with all [the] dignity that they deserve,” Ruel continued.

The 519 had a memorial wall along the staircase inside the building with the stories, names and photos of countless trans folks who have lost their lives at the hands of hate. I wandered the building before entering the ceremony and this was one of the first things I had seen. Reading the stories immediately brought on heavy emotions and it felt necessary to continue on throughout the night with many specific names, faces and experiences in mind.

The wall was a great reminder of the significance of the day, as there are countless trans lives lost that go unnoticed by the media and the public. These memorials pay homage to the cherished trans folks whose memories live on, while also calling attention to the reality of the violence that trans folks face.

The night began with an incredibly moving performance from the Circle of Cedar Singers, a two-spirit Indigenous group. They sang and drummed a traditional song with abundant passion evident by their facial expressions, body language and exudant energy, complimenting their powerful voices and instrumentation.

Following the performance, the 519 Trans Youth Mentorship Program (TYMP) came together to create an inspiring youth manifesto, sharing words of strength and optimism with the audience. 

“We must not accept the lie that for being trans youth, we are destined to a life of misery and suffering like our oppressors want us to believe. Yes, we face barriers and obstacles but we are capable of overcoming them together through community and mutual support. We want to be trans youth, trans adults and then trans elders,” TYMP constituents said. 

The trans community’s tight-knit and welcoming nature encouraged Ly, a member of the TYMP to present their poetry for the first time ever in front of an audience, despite writing for around a decade. Trans spaces hold so much kindness, acceptance and love that most trans people struggle to find in other places and it’s what drove Ly to share their beautiful words. 

“We are people as worthy as the next. Did you forget that we all become the same dust?” Ly recited from a page. 

Countless other artistic acts lit up the night, as various displays of music, dance, poetry and writing showcased the power art holds for preserving trans vitality. Performances from revered talent Maybella King Reynolds, Kieran Simms, Musa May Cry, Angёll Morana, D Badua, V Riczker, Sam Paboudjian, Arrow Strayed and Singing Out’s Trans and Non-binary Choir permeated the crowd with radiance and resilience. 

The energy in the room was incredibly strong, warm, understanding and fostered an inherent connection between everyone present. From person to person, I could feel an inexplicable force of relatability slowly overtaking all of us with every highly personal trans performance. It’s outlets and events like these that remind trans folks they are not alone and it is possible for their art to be celebrated by their community, who offer up unequivocal love and are proud of their mere existence on first encounter.

While the existing kinship between trans people and their allies remains strong and holds a home for many, the fight for trans rights is steadfast and unwavering.

Monica Forester, a member of the Circle Cedar Singers, said, “it’s up to us – even myself – to speak up when we hear things that are stigmatizing trans folks and [to] make change and [shape] a better world for everyone.” Forester’s sentiments recognized that trans folks cannot be the only ones fighting against transphobia.

There were also veteran guests in attendance such as Tegan*, a Toronto District School Board teacher who has taken part in TDOR at The 519 since its start. 

“My kids and our students in the trans community deserve to thrive, not just survive,” they urged. Tegan shared that in their world, there are many educators who are standing up and fighting for change in addition to the trans folks in the city who put themselves on the frontlines to ensure they are seen & heard.

Highlighting cherished Black and Brown trans women like Marsha P. Johnson, who have laid the groundwork for the trans liberation movement, it’s groups and individuals like these driving change that continue to remind Tegan we are getting closer to liberation and there is hope.

The night closed off with a performance from Indigenous singers and drummers, Isaiah and Elijah and a passionate Jingle Dance from Nicole Leveck and Indiana. The group began with an honour song to pay tribute to trans community members who we have lost, are here and are to come. Leveck emphasized that the dance’s purpose was for the healing of those who have passed and to lend strength to everyone to preserve our safe spaces. 

*This source has requested to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. CanCulture Magazine has verified this information.