In remembrance of the 26 transgender lives lost in the US due to hate crimes in the past year, the student organizations LLEGO and Transmissions at Rutgers University in New Brunswick collaborated to hold a vigil for Trans Day of Remembrance on November 21.
The event began at eight o’clock in the evening on the Brower Commons Steps at Rutgers’s New Brunswick campus and was led by Shaan Williams, who is the treasurer for both LLEGO and Transmissions. Approximately 40-50 people attended.
In addition to honoring the lives of the 26 transgender individuals killed, the event also aimed to raise awareness about other issues the transgender community faces beyond outright violence, such as discrimination in the workplace, harassment and lack of legal protections which all make members of the trans community more vulnerable in general and to anxiety and depression in particular.
According to Williams, “About 22-43% of trans people have attempted suicide at some point in their lives.”
Hyacinth Rivera, Social Media Coordinator of LLEGO said, “LLEGO’s mission is to empower queer people of color.”
Landon Stimson, the Social Media Chair for Transmissions stated, ”Our goal is really to provide a safe and inclusive space for trans and nonbinary students on campus.”
The two organizations hold events and offer services for transgender people at Rutgers University, including the Trans Day of Remembrance vigil. Other events include dances and open mics.
During the event, Morgan Hunlen, a graduate student of Rutgers University, then delivered a speech in which they said, “In 2019, we still exist in a time where tomorrow is not promised.”
They went on to describe both the fear of living as a transgender person in this world and the freedom that comes with living what they define as an “authentic life.”
Morgan concluded, “The most powerful thing a trans person can do is live as themselves.”
After the presentation ended, the crowd was led back to Rutger’s Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communities (SJE) for the vigil, where members of the community paid their respects with a moment of silence and then by leaving sticky note messages of love and support that they placed at a small display with picture of the 26 trans victims of hate crimes.
As the LGBTQIA+ community was honored, food, conversation, and trans supportive coloring books were provided.
According to Matthew Fontana, Office Manager of SJE, ” It’s really nice getting together with the community. It felt really nice being able to remember those we’ve lost and also be here with the living, I think.”
