Remembering our trans sisters and brothers

Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith explains the purpose of the day:  "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." 

 

A friend of mine has organized an event in Hew Haven, CT that will be livestreamed on social media.  This is still the way many places will observe TDOR as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.  I invite you to share information about events online in the comments section below and to all name those whom we have lost.  Remember them.  Say their names.

 

Although this blog is NOT about me, I also want to add a personal note this morning.  I'm not sure how many trans friends I have, but it is a very large number, and it hurts me to my very core to see any one of them mistreated.  I don't like seeing any human being mistreated, but it becomes even more difficult when it is someone you know.  There are many who are fighting for justice and equality, but nobody should have to fight.  Everyone deserves respect.  The brutal attacks must end.  The mistreating of people has got to stop.  We really need to all come together and enjoy life equally with everyone.  

Various events will take place today and tonight, candles will be lit in towns and cities all over the world to not only remember the dead, but also to bring attention to the lack of equality that we are still faced with.  More information is available HERE.  Get involved.  Make a difference.

Pioneer in Computers

Every year from November 13th to 19th, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face. This leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, which memorializes victims of transphobic violence.

This morning I was going to write about why there needs to be equality for our trans sisters and brothers.  I was going to write here about ending the hate and ending the violence.  All of that is certainly important, and I implore you to open your hearts and treat all people like people.  It's really that simple.

I want to say something here though about Lynn Conway, an 83-year-old professor emerita at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, a pioneer in the tech world, and a transgender activist. Back in 2009, Conway was named one of the Stonewall 40 Trans Heroes on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and seven years ago she was featured as one of Time magazine's 21 Transgender People Who Influenced American Culture.  Way before that though, she was fired from her job at a major computer firm, simply for being transgender, and for the next thirty years, Conway hid being transgender.

Despite her great work in the tech industry, her life was tough. Hiding your identity is not an easy thing to do. Losing a good paying job also takes its toll. When she came out though, the world was a better place. Last month there was finally an apology from that firm that fired her. It was an apology made during a companywide cyber-meeting that Conway had been invited to participate in. That day they also presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.  Change is slowly happening.

always giving

Do I talk about money too much?  An annual event fighting blood cancers comes up next week and I invite your donations.  Every summer I talk about AIDS Walk.  So many of my friends are involved in various fundraisers, and it seems I talk a lot about them too.  Many of us have been looking ahead to the costs of Thanksgiving and the other holidays that follow.  Personally I just ran up some HUGE medical bills in the past year.  On top of all of this, the pandemic has put a lot of folks put of work.  

Part of what I am saying is that money can be tight. Many folks are living from paycheck to paycheck, and perhaps that is part of the overall need. Just how are things with you though?  Are you better off than others? Could you possibly skip the afternoon latte and give that money to the homeless man on the street instead? Of course there are other ways of giving too. Right there is the key.  Not enough money?  Well find something else that helps the cause.  Donate used clothing or donate blood or give of your time and your talent.

Some people never stop giving and they inspire me to want to do more. If I find I am unable to give in the manner I would like, I just think of a different way to give. Giving to me shouldn't have any kind of limitation.  I'm sorry if any of you think I talk too much about giving, but I really like the idea of always giving!  It just seems like such a positive thing to do.