Nov. 20 is nationally recognized as Trans Day of Remembrance. This day serves as an opportunity to remember and mourn members of the transgender community that have been lost due to lethal violence and suicide. 

Fort Lewis College hosted two separate community events to honor this day. 

The host of these events, and assistant director of The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, Al Wolfe, gave some words of what this day means to them. 

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive, and people can only do that when they’re being their whole selves,” Wolfe said.

A vigil for Trans Day of Remembrance was held on Nov. 19. At Fort Lewis.

The vigil sought to hold space with community to honor those who lost their lives to anti-trans violence, specifically in the past year, Wolfe said.

“This day was first observed in 1999, in honor of Rita Hester, a Black trans-woman whose murder sparked a movement of community-led resistance and remembrance,” Wolfe shared during the speech at the vigil.

The second speaker of the night was Claire Duffy Richardson, a trans woman from the Durango community. 

“I have been living in authenticity for four years and a half now, and I’m living my best life,” she said. 

Courage, hope, patience and pursuing opportunities as one’s true self are the biggest acts of resilience, said Richardson

Richardson likes to center the future and continued joy of trans people while simultaneously honoring those who have passed on, she said.  

“I would like to suggest a Trans Day of Resilience,” said Richardson. 

“I want to be clear that this is not a coincidence, but rather compounded impacts of racism, transphobia, misogyny, and other systematic barriers and oppressions" said Wolfe. 

These events ask the public and queer community to come face to face with deep grief, Wolfe said.

To pretend that anti-trans violence doesn't touch communities close to us, would be to ignore the reality of living in America right now, said Wolfe during the speech. 

“Community is resistance, community is care, and it is our strength,” Wolfe said.

On Nov. 20 there was a celebration of the trans community held in Jones Hall. This was a new event for Fort Lewis, in which all the diversity centers came together with multiple activities, Wolfe said.

To attend this event, it was necessary for participants to show their FLC identification before coming in, said Wolfe.

Activities included board games, arts such as beading and dance lessons, a cookie decorating station and free food and drinks.  

Everyday actions are also important in allyship, Wolfe said. Some examples are using peoples pronouns, respecting identities, learning more by attending training sessions and asking respectful questions with curiosity, said Wolfe.

“Come hang out in the G, “ Wolfe said. “It’s open to everybody, we want people there who are supportive of the community.”