PSU’s Queer Resource Center seeks proposals for Trans Day of Remembrance

Portland State University‘s Queer Resource Center presents the ninth annual Trans Day of Remembrance and is looking for transgender, transexual and genderqueer/gendernaut performers, artists, speakers, workshop facilitators and volunteers. To Submit please email a short description of your proposal and a detail budget to ape2@pdx.edu. There will also be a public meeting in the upcoming weeks where PSU students and non-students can get involved and give feedback on what they would like to see for this years TDOR. For more information contact Smitty at ape2@pdx.edu or call 503-804-3716

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence.