Sponsored by the Montclair Clergy Association, this service will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at 7:00 PM at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 South Fullerton, Ave. Montclair.
All Are Welcome to Join in this Observance of Remembrance, Mourning, and Affirmation.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgenderwoman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.
“The 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.”–Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith
Let us gather for this essential work which will move us through lamentation to solidarity and support.
Questions and offers to participate, volunteer, or sponsor can be directed to Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael.