Washington County Gay Straight Alliance holds walk on Transgender Day of Remembrance
Sarah Alltop reads the names of 29 people Monday from around the United States who died due to violence, hate and discrimination for being transgender during a ceremony at the First Presbyterian Church in Washington.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Candles were lit Monday before the start of a walk in Washington for the international Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Many who took part in the candlelight walk in Washington for Transgender Day of Remembrance gathered Monday inside the Center on Strawberry after the vigil.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
People take part in a candlelight walk through downtown Washington Monday as part of the international Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Jaden Christopher Adam Raerhys reads a poem Monday during a presentation in First Presbyterian Church in Washington before a candlelight vigil as part of the international Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Members of the Washington transgender community, as well as their allies, gathered in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church in Washington to honor and mourn transgender people who were murdered in transphobic incidents in 2017.
The group came together to observe the international Transgender Day of Remembrance, held each Nov. 20.
Washington County Gay Straight Alliance organized the local event and led a candlelight walk through downtown Washington.
Participants carried candles with the names of transgender murder victims.
2017 was the deadliest year on record for transgender people, according to the International Transgender Day of Remembrance website, with 26 deaths reported in the United States through October.
Sarah Alltop, a transgender female from Martins Ferry, Ohio, read the names of trans people killed this year and discussed her transition and difficulties she has faced.
“The numbers have gone up,” said Kathy Cameron, an advisor for GSA. “They’re going in the wrong direction, so things aren’t getting better in that community. I used to tell the kids it’ll get better, but it’s not getting better. I don’t even know what to say anymore, especially to our kids.”
Monday’s vigil was aimed at paying respects to lives lost and showing support for transgender people who face high rates of violence in the United States and around the world.
The walk ended at The Center on Strawberry, where the group stayed for fellowship and refreshments.
“Tonight was about showing support for the transgender community in Washington County. When you come here and the community room is filled, that has to make a trans person feel affirmed that they’re not alone,” Cameron said.
Among those who attended the vigil was Jaden Christopher Adam Raerhys, a transgender man who lives in Washington.
“When someone passes away, they are still with us,” Raerhys said. “By speaking their names, we’re actually letting their voices be heard.”
Transgender Day of Remembrance was started to honor the memory of Rita Hester, an African-American transgender woman who was murdered in her Allston, Mass. apartment in 1998. Her murder remains unsolved.