Speech at Transgender Day of Remembrance, 2024

Friends and Beloved Community,

We gather here today, not simply to mourn, but to remember.

To hold close to our hearts the lives of those we have lost in our journey toward truth and freedom.

Today, on this Day of Remembrance, we stand united in honor of our fallen siblings who faced, and transcended, unimaginable challenges.

I stand before you as a Black trans woman, aware of the weight of history and the resilience of our community. Our journey is one that has never been easy. Ours is a legacy marked by perseverance, bravery, and unyielding hope, even in the face of adversity that seeks to silence and erase us.

Each of us here knows the sacrifices served and the strength invoked at the altar of seeking one’s true self.

Today, we remember the lives taken from us too soon, the voices silenced, and the lights dimmed.

But let us also remember that they are not lost to us—they live on in our hearts, in our memories, and in our shared determination to live openly, freely, and authentically.

Their spirits are woven into the very fabric of our community, guiding and empowering us to continue this journey.

Yet we cannot ignore the troubling rise of hatred and anger we are seeing around us—not just in unjust legislation, but in the cruel actions of those who harass, threaten, and persecute.

This hatred extends beyond physical spaces and now touches every corner of our lives: online, on television and radio, and in podcasts.

Our very existence is met with hostility by some who see us as a threat, who misunderstand us, or who fear us because we live boldly as we are.

But let us be resolute in this: we must never give in to fear. Fear limits our potential, limits our ability to persevere, and limits our capacity for resilience.

Fear is the greatest enemy of freedom.

And we must remain firm to ensure fear never takes hold of our destiny.

Each of us carries a spark of courage, a flame that refuses to be extinguished, no matter how fierce the winds may blow.It is this courage that ignites us in moving forward and empowers us to claim our place in this world with dignity and pride.

In this moment of remembrance, let us commit to action. For honoring those who have passed without revering their memory is a disservice to those who have given so much.

Let us work toward a world where no one needs fear for their lives because of who they are.

Let us educate, advocate, and protect our trans siblings.

As we say their names tonight, may it remind us of our duty: to care for one another, to fight for each other, and to love each other fiercely. Let us enlighten their legacy with empassioned fury of those who are no longer with us. Let us burn bright a world where every trans person can live their truth in safety and in peace.

And as we leave here today, let us carry be their torchbearers not only in our hearts but in our hands. 

Let us transform our grief into action, our pain into power, and our remembrance into revolution. Together, we are the unbreakable thread that weaves the past, present, and future of this community. 

We are the living proof that love, truth, and authenticity can and will prevail.

So let us rise, not just as individuals, but as a collective force of change. Let us build a world where trans joy is celebrated, trans lives are cherished, and trans futures are limitless. 

For we are more than survivors—we are thrivers, visionaries, and architects of a brighter tomorrow.

May we move forward, not only to honor those we have lost but to fight fiercely for the world they deserved. Together, we will create it. Together, we are unstoppable.

May we always remember them, and may they rest in peace and in power.