It’s Trans Day of Remembrance today, but what does this mean, and how will it be commemorated in the Steel City?
What is International Trans Day of Remembrance?
Observed annually on 20th November, the Day memorialises those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia.
According to Stonewall, the Day was founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender activist and writer, in 1999 to commemorate the life and death of Rita Hester.
Miss Hester was a black trans woman murdered in Boston, Massachusetts.
Stonewall said it is vital to remember trans lives.
They said, on their website: “On Trans Day of Remembrance, many of us, whether cis or trans, can reflect on how we can work together to end gender-based violence, harassment and discrimination in all their forms.”
320 trans people have been murdered so far in 2023, according to the Trans Murder Monitoring Report.
What have Sheffield groups already done for trans rights?
In February, action group Sheffield Solidarity Group, held a candlelit vigil for Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old trans woman.
Miss Ghey was stabbed to death in a park in Cheshire after a relentless campaign of online bullying.
Another group fighting for trans rights in Sheffield are Sheffield Radical Pride, a grassroots radical LGBTQ+ group fighting for the non-commercialisation of Pride.
The group held a trans rights march at the start of April, attended by hundreds of protestors, from Devonshire Green to Sheffield Crown Court.
They also organised a Pride March and queer takeover of Endcliffe Park in July, blocking the Brook Hill roundabout to spread their message.
Over 500 people marched the streets, with the aim of making Pride anti-capitalist again.
What is happening in Sheffield this year to remember trans lives?
There will be an event in the city centre, held by SAYiT, a Sheffield youth LGBTQ+ charity.
It will run from 5:30pm to 7:30pm tonight in the Winter Gardens, with a vigil at 6:30pm.
Heather Paterson, CEO of SAYiT, said: “I almost feel like I have to give a disclaimer when I open my mouth to talk about being a queer person in the UK at the moment.
“The level of hate especially against trans and non-binary people is just obscene.
“We really want to encourage people to come down and support Trans Remembrance Day.”
There is also a vigil at Hallam Square, organised by Sheffield Hallam LGBT+ Liberation Group, Transforming Cinema, E.D.E.N Film Productions, Pride Sheffield and QASh.
On their Facebook page, they said: “These are deaths that are largely ignored by mainstream society, but send shockwaves through the trans community.
“TDOR gives us a day to grieve, but also to celebrate the lives that have been tragically cut short by hate crimes. “
The vigil will run from 6 to 7:30pm, with speakers from SAYiT, T-Boys, QASh, Action for Trans Health, and the Sheffield Hallam LGBT+ Liberation Group.
As well as this, there is a Trans Day of Remembrance March held by SolidariT at the University of Sheffield.
The silent march starts from the Concourse Bridge outside the Students’ Union at 5:30pm, but the group has asked participants to get there at 4:30pm.
They will then return to the Students’ Union at 7:45pm.