Transgender Remembrance Day: Honoring the Victims

By Rachelle Stefanski

On January 1st of this year, Camila Montoya was shot twice and killed by police officers in Cali, Colombia. Since her death, more than 243 members of the transgender community have been murdered. This is due to the alarming increase of senseless violence and murder that the community is facing each year. 
 
Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance.  Today, we remember each of the lives lost in 2016. 
 
The statistics are sobering and the numbers are climbing every year.  As of October 31, 2016, there have been at least 23 reported murders of transgender people in the United States. Additionally, analyses reference “reported murders,” and because victims are often misgendered or their personal information is not released, the annual rate of transgender deaths is likely much higher than we believe. In 2015, at least 21 transgender people were murdered in the United States. 
 
The Transgender Day of Remembrance honors the victims of transphobia and brings attention to a community that continues to endure worldwide violence and hatred on a drastic level. Today serves to raise public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, to publicly mourn those who have lost their lives and might otherwise be forgotten, to show love and support for the transgender community in the face of national indifference and hatred, and to remind non-transgender people that people in the transgender community are their loved ones.
 
Gwendolyn Ann Smith commenced the Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1998, when she lost her friend Rita Hester.  She honored Hester and all of the other transgender murder victims from that year, stating simply:

"The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. ...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."

As a country, we have seen recent national backlash over the little progress that has been made for the transgender community.  Politicians and the national media over-analyze which restroom people should use, which creates anger, fear, and threats of violence in certain parts of the United States – threats specifically targeted at a community that is already facing tremendous obstacles in their daily lives.  Transgender people face daily struggles that the cisgender population (those whose self-identity conforms with the gender they were assigned at birth) takes for granted. 
 
Many people are forced to navigate life without correct documentation of their identity or the ability to obtain accurate identification. Hillary Clinton's State Department enacted a supportive passport policy in 2010, but class barriers remain an issue for transgender people who cannot afford a passport. The absence of this type of policy at the state level can restrict access to health care, housing, public services, and employment, among other things. 
 
In fact, according to a 2015 Time article, transgender people are four times more likely than the general population to report living in extreme poverty with an income of less than $10,000. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that transgender people face double the national unemployment rate, and transgender people of color, who endure both transphobia and racism, face four times the national unemployment rate. Confronted with living in extreme poverty, the transgender community is more vulnerable to violence and more likely to enter sex work—not by an empowered choice (like many do), but by financial need.    
 
In addition to high unemployment rates, transgender women of color are at higher risk of harassment and violence.  In 2014, of the 11 transgender women who were murdered, 10 were transgender women of color.  A 2015 Human Rights Campaign report (in partnership with the Transgender People of Color Coalition) shows statistical data that transgender people of color are 6 times more likely to suffer physical violence at the hands of the police, 1.5 times more likely to experience discrimination, and 1.5 times more likely to face sexual violence than their non-transgender LGBQ peers. 
 
The report also states that half of all transgender people will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime.
 
When members of the transgender community are attacked, threatened, or harassed, they often face hostility or indifference from the very people who are supposed to help them.  Police interactions have become dangerous obstacles to the community.  Nearly half of victims of attacks or harassment will not report the incidents to police for fear of harassment or intimidation from the police.
 
What is currently being done

On a federal level, hate crimes legislation was passed to include gender identity.  The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a 2009 federal law that expands federal hate crime law to include gender identity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability status. 
 
The following states have hate crime laws that cover both sexual orientation and gender identity: Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
 
Arizona, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine only cover sexual orientation.
 
The following states have existing hate crime law, but do not cover sexual orientation or gender identity: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina.
 
Arkansas, Indiana, Georgia, South Carolina, and Wyoming do not have hate crime laws.
 
Many of the transgender victims who were murdered in 2016 died in states where existing state hate crime laws do not cover gender identity. 
 
While the lack of state level gender identity hate crime laws and statistics of violence and murder are appalling in the United States, it is not the only area of the world facing a crisis.  Brazil is seeing a shocking number of transgender murders, and the numbers are on the rise each year. A Brazilian transgender advocacy group reported that there were 57 transgender people murdered in the first 26 days of 2016.  The Trans Murder Monitoring Project, which monitors statistics worldwide, states that one transgender person is murdered every 21 hours in the Federative Republic of Brazil.
 
The transgender community's future
 
As a new President steps into office—one with a much different agenda than President Obama—the transgender community will continue to face the same obstacles, but now with segments of the U.S. population feeling emboldened to discriminate without repercussion. Because of this, it is more important than ever for cisgender people to step up and advocate for transgender rights and protections through housing initiatives, health care coverage, employment assistance, law enforcement training, and simple ally-ship.
 
Being an ally can mean educating other cisgender people, being respectful of pronouns and “out” status, publically challenging anti-transgender remarks or jokes, supporting gender neutral restroom legislation, making your company or school truly trans-inclusive, and knowing your own limits as an ally. Most importantly, listen to transgender people, and try to put their rights above your own ego and feelings.
 
It is only through action that we will be able to curb the violence to the transgender community and bring about change to make the community safe.
 
Remembering the victims
 
Today we remember all victims of violence against the transgender community during 2016. We have provided a list of as many victims as we could, but due to the lack of statistical data, the very lengthy list below is still incomplete.  It is our hope that continued education and advocacy will lead to lasting change.
 
Argentina:
September 10, 2016 – Zoe Nazarena Quispe (36 years old) – stabbed
August 23, 2016 – L.E. (22 years old) – stabbed
June 23, 2015 – Monica Ortiz (53 years old) – stabbed
June 5, 2016 – Natalia Sandoval (35 years old) – beaten
May 3, 3016 – Chiche (74 years old) – not reported
April 1, 2016 – Erika Rojas (29 years old) – not reported
February 29, 2016 – N.N. – shot
February 23, 2016 – J.M. Salazar (34 years old) – beaten
January 18, 2016 – N.N. – not reported
 
Bolivia:
April 2, 2016 – Dayana Zarate Bustamante (24 years old) – not reported
March 25, 2016 – Cristiana M.M. (19 years old) – beaten
 
Brazil*:
October 27, 2016 – J.W. da Silva (24 years old) – stoned to death
October 21, 2016 – Julia Sofia (20 years old) – stabbed to death
October 16, 2016 – Yasmin Montoy (20 years old) – beaten to death, blunt force trauma to the head
October 13, 2016 – Unidentified Woman – suffocation
October 8, 2016 – W.R. Alexandre – beaten to death
September 30, 2016 – Unidentified Woman – stabbed to death
September 30, 2016 – Rafael Silva (17 years old) – 17 gunshots, ran over by car
September 28, 2016 – Shena – stabbed
September 24, 2016 – Chaiene da Silva – multiple gunshot wounds
September 18, 2016 – Biloca – shot
September 15, 2016 – Larissa (31 years old) – shot in abdomen, thrown from car
September 13, 2016 – N.N. (26 years old) – stabbed/shot
September 11, 2016 – H.J. Silva (37 years old) – blunt force trauma
September 10, 2016 – Chica – shot
September 9, 2016 – Pamela Pereira (16 years old) – multiple gunshot wounds
September 9, 2016 – N.N. (24 years old) – gunshot and stab wounds
September 5, 2016 – Taina W.P. Alencar (22 years old) – stab wound
September 3, 2016 – Hilda A.J. da Silva (46 years old) – strangled
August 29, 2016 – Bruniela – multiple gunshot wounds
August 25, 2016 – Erika W.P. de Arruda (30 years old) – gunshot wounds to neck and groin
August 19, 2016 – Brenda – stabbing
August 16, 2016 – J.W. de Melo Filho (22 years old) – strangled
August 13, 2016 – Patty Lobo – shot
August 12, 2016 – Tiffany Rodrigues (23 years old) – asphyxiation
August 8, 2016 – N.N. – not reported
August 8, 2016 – Thiemy Oliveira (24 years old) – stabbing
August 1, 2016 – Unidentified Woman – stabbing
August 1, 2016 – Adriane Bonek (43 years old) – unknown
July 30, 2016 – Bibis (40 years old) – shot
July 27, 2016 – N.N. – shot
July 27, 2016 – N.N. – shot
July 26, 2016 – Feh Lopes Tenten – shot
July 25, 2016 – Sabrina E.S. Sales (25 years old) – beaten to death
July 25, 2016 – Nayara (23 years old) – shot
July 13, 2016 – N.N. – stabbing
July 11, 2016 – Edymara M. Leao (36 years old) – asphyxiation
July 11, 2016 – Nickolle Olvierira Rocha (21 years old) – beaten to death
July 11, 2016 – N.N. – not reported
July 9, 2016 – Jade – strangled
July 8, 2016 – D. Rodriguez Silva (48 years old) – not reported
July 3, 2016 – Pandora Pereira (26 years old) – stabbed to death
June 29, 2016 – Daiane Brasil (36 years old) – gunshots to neck, chest, and face
June 27, 2016 – Julia Almeida (28 years old) – tortured and carbonized
June 26, 2016 – Danyelly Barby (24 years old) – gunshot to the neck
June 26, 2016 – Sheila Santos – gunshot
June 24, 2016 – Luana – stabbed
June 22, 2016 – Lorran Lorang (19 years old) – hanged
June 18, 2016 – N.N. – beaten to death with a wooden club
June 16, 2016 - Gabriel Figueira de Lima (21 years old) – stabbed in the neck
June 15, 2016 – N.N. – burned
June 13, 2016 – N.N. – stabbed
June 12, 2016 – Suellen (20 years old) – shot
June 9, 2016 – Patricia Tavares – stabbed
June 7, 2016 – Thais – shot
May 16, 2016 – Paula – beaten to death
May 16, 2016 – Lauandersa – stabbed over 30 times
May 15, 2016 – Ana Hickman (30 years old) – 2 gunshots in the neck
May 11, 2016 – Michele de Souza (22 years old) – 7 gunshots to the chest, abdomen, legs and arms
May 10, 2016 – W. Amorim Pires (17 years old) – beaten
May 5, 2016 – Leticia Silva (22 years old) – gunshot wound
May 4, 2016 – Alana da Silva Pessoa (22 years old) – gunshot wound
May 2, 2016 – Pamella Leao (23 years old) – shot
May 2, 2016 – Adriana Leite – not reported
May 1, 2016 – W.L. da Luz Conceicao (23 years old) – stabbed
April 16, 2016 – Jessica L.C. Menezes (24 years old) – multiple stab wounds
April 13, 2016 – Luana Biersack (14 years old) – sexually assaulted, beaten, drowned
April 11, 2016 – Amanda Araujo (17 years old) – multiple stab wounds
April 11, 2016 – Bianca Abravanel (25 years old) – 15 gunshot wounds to chest and face
April 8, 2016 – Vanessa Ferreira Prestes (35 years old) – shot
March 29, 2016 – Andinho – multiple gunshot wounds
March 28, 2016 – Gabriella Rodrigues – multiple gunshot wounds
March 27, 2016 – Keity do Nascimento (42 years old) – beaten to death
March 23, 2016 – N.N. – stabbed
March 20, 2016 – M. Moreira (16 years old) – head trauma
March 15, 2016 – Cris Santos da Silva (27 years old) – shot
March 13, 2016 – Camilla Rios (32 years old) – shot
March 10, 2016 – N.N. – unknown, dismembered
March 9, 2016 – Maria do Bairro – not reported
March 8, 2016 – N.N. – not reported
March 7, 2016 – Mika P. Da Silva – gunshot wounds to the head and groin
March 7, 2016 – N.N. – stabbed
March 6, 2016 – Maria la del Barrio – unknown
March 5, 2016 – Trator – multiple stab wounds to the neck
February 27, 2016 – N.N. – multiple gunshot wounds
February 24, 2016 – Bruna Teixeira (25 years old) – shot
February 24, 2016 – Natascha (37 years old) – set on fire
February 22, 2016 – E. dos Santos (36 years old) – shot
February 21, 2016 – C. Moreira Batista Neves (25 years old) – stabbed
February 19, 2016 – D.L. Rabelini Quadros – asphyxiation 
February 19, 2016 – D.L. Silva de Oliveira – asphyxiation
February 16, 2016 – T.E. de Moraes Geremias (37 years old) – stabbed
February 16, 2016 – Cicarelli de Carvalho (36 years old) – stabbed to death
February 12, 2016 – Unidentified Woman – gunshot
February 11, 2016 – Malu – shot 
January 31, 2016 – N.N. – killed by a serial killer
January 27, 2016 – Fabiane Hilario (20 years old) – gunshot at point blank range to the head
January 25, 2016 – Michelly Fernandes (30 years old) – shot eight times
January 24, 2016 – Dani Pereira (20 years old) – gunshot to the chest
January 24, 2016 – Paolal Barraza – shot
January 23, 2016 – Bruna Souza (23 years old) – multiple stab wounds
January 23, 2016 – Ketelen Alves (23 years old) – gunshots
January 21, 2016 – Paula Fernandes – run over by car
January 18, 2016 – Barbara Malquimi (35 years old) – run over by car
January 17, 2016 – Marcia Cabrita (38 years old) – not reported
January 17, 2016 – Giovana Atanazio (20 years old) – thrown from a bridge, drowned
January 17, 2016 – Nathallya Figueriedo (25 years old) - stabbed
January 12, 2016 – Flavia Andrade das Neves – shot to death
January 8, 2016 – J.A.A.D. (17 years old) – shot several times
January 8, 2016 – Paola “Chica” Bratho (25 years old) – shot several times
January 4, 2016 – Unidentified woman – multiple gunshots
 
*Brazil does not record statistical data on the LGBTQ community because acts of violence against the LGBTQ community are not criminalized in Brazil, preventing true data on the actual number of victims. 
 
Chile:
May 20, 2016 – Litzy Odalis Parrales – stabbed
 
Colombia:
September 20, 2016 – Kelly Johana Oquendo Villada (25 years old) – burned
September 19, 2016 – “La Pio” Pardo Escobar (26 years old) – stabbed
August 17, 2016 – Oriana Nicoll Martinez Otero (32 years old) – stabbed
August 7, 2016 – Cucutena Baron Contreras (31 years old) – stabbed
August 1, 2016 – Jessica Cuervo – shot
June 10, 2016 – Paloma (44 years old) – stabbed
February 21, 2016 – Natalisa Alcaraz Orozco (25 years old) – shot
February 1, 2016 – Jessica Riascos – shot
January 1, 2016 – Camila Montoya – shot twice by police
 
Costa Rica:
March 3, 3016 – Michelle Fuentes Robles (30 years old) – shot
 
Dominican Republic:
September 10, 2016 – F. Natera Encarnacion (24 years old) – stabbed
May 3, 2016 – Amaranta Polanco (29 years old) – poisoned
 
El Salvador:
May 30, 2016 – A. Perez Nunez – torture
May 21, 2016 – Tonita – beaten
February 16, 2016 – Pepsi Arevalo Gomez (23 years old) – stabbed
January 13, 2016 – Ashly Carrillo – shot and tortured
January 12, 2016 – Samantha Ortiz Chicas (18 years old) - decapitation
January 8, 2016 – Vanessa Cortez Pena – shot to death
 
France:
February 22, 2016 – L.F. Zarate Vilcas (53 years old) – shot
 
Honduras:
July 25, 2016 – Kristell Barahona (38 years old) – shot
June 4, 2016 – Pamela Martinez – shot
April 15, 2016 – Alejandra Padilla – beaten
2016 – Not Reported – cause of death not reported
2016 – Not Reported – cause of death not reported
 
India:
September 4, 2016 – Ravina (40 years old) – stabbed
July 23, 2016 – Shruthi (25 years old) – beaten
June 5, 2016 – Geeta – shot
April 28, 2016 – Pooja (28 years old) – stabbed
January 8, 2016 – N.N. – stabbed
 
Italy:
August 24, 2016 – Marta Baroni (34 years old) – not reported
July 29, 2016 – Thiago Fernando Batista (30 years old) – unknown, body thrown in dumpster
June 29, 2016 – Bebel da Silva (45 years old) – stabbed
May 11, 2016 – G. Arrivoli (41 years old) – shot
March 13, 2016 – Katty Piscopo (64 years old) – cut throat
 
Liberia:
June 11, 2016 – Christina Nimely – not reported
 
Malaysia:
March 9, 2016 – Zhukran Supu (20 years old) – thrown out from 3rd floor home
 
Mexico:
Not Reported – Paulette Gonzalez (24 years old) – murdered, burned beyond recognition
Not Reported – N.N. – tortured
Not Reported – N.N. – not reported
Not Reported – N.N. – not reported
September 30, 2016 – Paola Ledezma Gonzalez (25 years old) – shot
September 27, 2016 – Rafael da Silva Machado (17 years old) – shot
August 1, 2016 – N.N. – shot
July 17, 2016 – Talia – beaten
July 16, 2016 – R. da Silva Tavares – shot
July 2, 2016 – N.N. – tortured and shot
July 1, 2016 – N.N. (29 years old) – not reported
Not Reported – Yoselinne Gopar Carvajal (35 years old) – shot
June 16, 2016 – Faby (35 years old) – stabbed
June 11, 2016 – Evelin Abigail Galvan Zamora (24 years old) – stabbed
June 6, 2016 – N.N. – beaten
June 4, 2016 – P. Lugo Olivares (50 years old) – beaten
June 3, 2016 – N.N. (29 years old) – shot
June 2, 2016 – Olga Nely Lopez Jiminez (57 years old) – not reported
May 27, 2016 – J.C.A. (39 years old) – asphyxiation
May 17, 2016 – Jessica (26 years old) – stabbed
May 16, 2016 – N.N. (25 years old) – run over by car
May 14, 2016 – N.N. – not reported
May 2, 2016 – F. Ortega Martinez (26 years old) – shot
April 30, 2016 – N.N. – run over by car
April 15, 2016 – N.N. – shot
April 11, 2016 – N.N. (30 years old) – beaten
April 8, 2016 – B.C. Madariaga Hidalgo (22 years old) – shot
April 3, 2016 – Diana Torres Conde – stabbed
March 15, 2016 – Camila Dominguez Garcia (35 years old) – asphyxiation
March 6, 2016 – N.N. (25 years old) – cut throat
March 2, 2016 – N.N. – stabbed
February 23, 2016 – I. Maya Vargas (30 years old) – shot
February 21, 2016 – N.N. (35 years old) – not reported
February 15, 2016 – N.N. – stabbed
February 9, 2016 – Monica Devin – stabbed
February 9, 2016 – B. Elizalde Vicente – stabbed
January 28, 2016 – N.N. – shot
January 21, 2016 – N.N. – stabbed
January 14, 2016 – N.N. – strangled
January 10, 2016 – Melanie – not reported
January 9, 2016 – Paloma Hernandez Garay – beaten to death
January 6, 2016 – H.M. Prieto Medina (28 years old) - stabbed
 
Nepal:
January 10, 2016 – N.N. – beaten to death
 
Pakistan:
July 10, 2016 – Shehla (42 years old) – shot
June 29, 2016 – Saba (17 years old) – shot
June 13, 2016 – N.N. – stabbed
June 13, 2016 – N.N. – shot
May 25, 2016 – Alesha (23 years old) – multiple gunshot wounds
March 12, 2016 – Naila – shot
 
Peru:
September 21, 2016 – Heydi Garcia (28 years old) – not reported
May 31, 2016 – Zuleimy Aylen Sanchez Cardenas (14 years old) – shot
 
Phillipines:
June 3, 2016 – Barbie/Ashley Ann Reilly (23 years old) – not reported
 
Russia:
October 2016 – Raina Aliev (25 years old) – dismembered
February 1, 2016 – Angela Likin – stabbed
 
Spain:
October 24, 2016 – Lorena Reyes (32 years old) – fall, after being stabbed
 
Thailand:
August 20, 2016 – Amphon Kongsong (28 years old) – strangled, body stuffed in bed frame
 
Turkey:
August 12, 2016 – Hande Kader (24 years old) – murdered, burned beyond recognition
March 20, 2016 – Aleda – stabbed
March 4, 2016 – Buse (31 years old) – stabbed
 
United States:
October 8, 2016 – Brandi Bledsoe (32 years old) – unknown
September 23, 2016 – Jazz Alford (30 years old) – unknown
September 16, 2016 – Crystal Edmonds (32 years old) – shot in back of head
September 11, 2016 – TT Saffore (26 years old) – throat cut
August 10, 2016 – Rae’lynn Thomas (28 years old) – shot at point blank range
August 8, 2016 – Erykah Tijerina (36 years old) – stabbed 24 times
July 30, 2016 – Skye Mockabee (26 years old) – head wound
July 23, 2016 – Dee Whigham (36 years old) – stabbed to death
July 4, 2016 – Deeniquia Dodds (22 years old) – shot
June 5, 2016 – Goddess Diamond (20 years old) – blunt force trauma, set on fire
May 29, 2016 – Amos Beede (38 years old) – beaten to death
May 15, 2016 – Mercedes Successful (32 years old) – gunshot
May 1, 2016 – Tyreece “Reecey” Walker (32 years old) – multiple stab wounds
May 1, 2016 – Keyonna Blakeney (22 years old) – upper body trauma
April 11, 2016 – Shante Thompson (34 years old) – beaten and shot
March 23, 2016 – Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum (32 years old) – shot in the head
March 2, 2016 – Kendarie/Kandicee Johnson (16 years old) – gunshot
February 27, 2016 – Demarkis Stansberry (30 years old) – shot
February 20, 2016 – Maya Young (25 years old) – stabbing
February 19, 2016 – Veronica Banks Cano – found dead in a bathtub
February 4, 2016 – Kayden Clarke (24 years old) – shot by police
January 22, 2016 – Monica Loera (43 years old) – gunshot
January 22, 2016 – Jasmine Sierra (52 years old) – beaten to death
 
Venezuela:
August 19, 2016 – N.N. – shot
Unreported – N.N. – not reported
May 24, 2016 – Karoline Valencia (34 years old) – shot
May 17, 2016 – K.A. Suarez (27 years old) – shot
April 30, 2016 – Wilmer Jose Bellorin Contreras (24 years old) – shot
April 18, 2016 – “La Gaviota” Zambrano Godoy – shot
April 11, 2016 – I.R. Gomez Medina (30 years old) – shot
March 26, 2016 – Johana Bravo – shot
March 26, 2016 – Tatiana Guanipa Romero (29 years old) – shot
February 28, 2016 – Fabiola Pimentel Jimenez (24 years old) – shot
February 28, 2016 – Karen Pena Aranguren (33 years old) – shot
February 6, 2016 – Cristina Iniciarte Iniciarte (29 years old) - shot