A time of respect and a symbol of hope

These are the winning essays sponsored by T Project and Joeten-Kiyu Public Library that sought to answer the question: What is Transgender Day of Remembrance, and why is it important?

Transgender Remembrance Day was established on Nov. 20, 1999, in honor of Rita Heister, whose murder launched a platform for transgender communities to raise awareness of the threats and violence against them. However, this day’s value lies further than its origins; it’s a testament to evolution, a day of advocacy, and a sign of respect. Despite trials and tribulations, the transgender community was able to grow from their unfortunate situation, displaying qualities of true pride. Future generations can witness the hardship, the struggle, and the fight for their rights—so strong that no one will be able to extinguish their passion.

Thousands of people around the world observe Transgender Remembrance Day; and most consider it a time of expression in honor of the events that happened in the past. Back then, violence toward the transgender community ran rampant: slurs, beatings, segregation, and even murder were common events. Our society has come a long way from our long history of mistreatment toward people who are just trying to be themselves. Now we’ve been able to evolve into a more welcoming and accepting society. We celebrate instead of demolishing, we compliment instead of slander and, most importantly, we love instead of hate. It has come to a point where we’ve been able to celebrate everyone, honoring who they are as individuals and recognizing that part of themselves as true and right. This shows that we are capable of change. When people look back on this day, they witness the progress we’ve made to become the community that we are today.

The events that sparked the Day of Remembrance are something that we must continue to bring awareness of and advocate to this day. Although our society has been able to take large strides in our effort toward acceptance, it is undeniable that some horrendous acts still occur to this day. Transgender Remembrance Day enables us to advocate and speak out against the crimes that have, and continue to, invade the lives of many. Murder is just one of the many hate crimes that the transgender community faces. The “small,” “insignificant” comments made by others can build up over time and can cause an insurmountable amount of damage to a person, more than what others might ever know. This is exactly why we must advocate for what we believe in and stand firm in our beliefs. On this day, the transgender community can unite and come together to relate their struggles, bringing awareness to those who need support. Not only does advocacy initiate conversations beneficial to the understanding of others, but also sparks interest and knowledge of the ideas that the transgender community hopes to see in the world. Ultimately, Transgender Remembrance Day is a time of respect for those murdered in the fight for their beliefs. Far too many lives have been lost by people who were simply trying to be themselves. Nov. 20th is the day the community can look back on themselves and remember these people and the events that took place. Communities can organize events, exhibits, and candlelight vigils to recognize the violence and issues at hand. In a way, this allows people to cope with their situations, loss, and emotions. For some, it could mean a time of mourning, for others it could mean a time of peace, but for all, it is a sign of respect. Living in this life is a struggle; let alone having to cope with people degrading something you recognize as one of the most fundamental aspects of yourselves. These feelings can become so overwhelming that they could lead to pain, suffering, and even suicide. By honoring these people and showing respect for their loss, we can find comfort within the stresses of the world.

Transgender Remembrance Day empowers our society to evolve, advocate, and respect the cause. We have grown to become much more accommodating and accepting toward the transgender community, which is something that we should take pride in. However, that doesn’t mean that the issue is eradicated and that we can stop bringing awareness to the struggles that we face. This is a time for us to show respect for those who have gone, and even those that continue to live on within the imperfect conditions of society. Though it may be hard, Transgender Remembrance Day is a symbol of hope; revealing that we are so much more than what the world makes us out to be. While we might have come from hardship and pains in the past, we are still here—powerful enough to be able to fight for our beliefs.

JERMAINE CHLOE YALUNG (Special to the Saipan Tribune)
Jermaine Chloe Yalung is an 11th grade student at the Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr./Sr. High School on Rota.