From a speech given at King Ave Church on 11/20/23 for Transgender Day of Remembrance–event hosts T Talks and Columbus Trans Pride March.

Good evening, I’m Densil Porteous, and I use he/they pronouns.

Today, on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, we gather to remember and honor the lives of those we have lost to violence and discrimination and endeavor to celebrate those who continue to fight simply to live their most authentic lives.

Today we remember and honor Rita Hester who was murdered on November 28, 1998.

Rita’s murder sparked an international movement, this movement, that we know today as Transgender Day of Remembrance. For many in the trans and non-binary communities, this day is the only annual gathering of community we have. And, tragically, most transgender people can’t tell you who Rita Hester was because Transgender history is not taught in schools, and trans murders and violence remain largely underreported.

More than two decades after Rita’s death, the U.S. is facing an epidemic of trans violence and anti-trans rhetoric. The statistics we see today are staggering, revealing the harsh reality that transgender and non-binary individuals, particularly those of color, face a disproportionate amount of violence.

In 2023…

88% of the victims have been people of color and 54% were Black transgender women. These figures underscore the urgent need to address the systemic issues that perpetuate this injustice unique to these intersectional identities.

73% have been killed with a gun. The use of firearms in these incidents emphasizes the urgency of addressing gun violence as part of a broader conversation on safety and protection for the transgender community.

47% of victims with a known killer were killed by a romantic/sexual partner, friend, or family member. This statistic is a painful reminder that sometimes the greatest threat comes from those closest to us.

50% were misgendered or dead-named by authorities or the press. This figure speaks to the erasure and disrespect that continues even after death.

I was raised by a single-mother, in a Caribbean Pentecostal home, in Brooklyn, New York in the eighties, I am the youngest with three older sisters. As a young person I was not in a safe environment where I was able to live my most authentic life….I was not able to truly be myself.

Today, I am a queer Black person who helps guide and works at a queer centered organization. I recognize the odd privilege I have of going to work and being my full self each and every day. With this little bit of privilege it is my job to help create a reality where people can show up in their families, workplaces, places of worship, ~you name it~ unapologetically THEMSELVES. And not only that, but deeply and profoundly happy with who they are and where they are heading. I believe the work I do is centered in the idea, in the belief, that we should all be happy, of course, without causing harm to others. And happiness is being able to daily show up as your most authentic self.

Today, I stand here on Transgender Day of Remembrance, emboldened in my commitment to remember, honor, and advocate for those who can no longer, or unable to, speak for themselves. Rita Hester’s legacy lives on through this day, a day that has become an annual beacon of remembrance for the transgender and non-binary community. The stories we tell, the names we speak, and the statistics we share are not just numbers, names on the wind, or stories of lore…they are the lives, the dreams, and the aspirations of individuals who deserve to be remembered and honored.

Queer trans history is rich, filled with resilience, activism, and moments of triumph.

From the Compton’s Cafeteria riot to the fight for marriage equality, our community has consistently shown that when we come together to fight for most of us, we can make great strides.

The fight for transgender lives and the telling of our histories is about all of us…not some of us.

Today, on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, we gather to remember and honor the lives of those we have lost to violence and discrimination and endeavor to celebrate those who continue to fight simply to live their most authentic lives.