Transgender Day of Remembrance

On November 20, HHHRC’s Kuaʻana Project hosted Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) at Capitol Modern. TDOR began in 1999 by trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor the life of Rita Hester, a trans woman who was killed in 1998. 

Distinguished guests included Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu and Kim Coco Iwamoto, who is the first trans person elected to the Hawaiʻi legislature. Attendees were invited to recite the names of those who lost their lives to anti-trans violence from across the nation and the world. Methods of death included stabbing, strangulation, decapitation, stoning, torture, and gun violence. 

A report released by Everytown for Gun Safety earlier this year showed a rise in trans homicides across the United States from 2017-2023, with almost half occurring in the South. 

“This is an especially somber moment for the trans community across America. Hundreds of millions of dollars of political advertising in recent months perpetuated harmful stigma. This media onslaught was preceded by years of anti-trans legislation and lawsuits to deny access to gender-affirming care and prevent the participation of trans people in civic life,” said Maddalynn Sesepasara, HHHRC’s Transgender Services Manager. Sesepasara also serves as the co-chair of the Sexual and Gender Minority Working Group of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health. 

“Yet amidst the negative news and trepidation about the years ahead, there are reasons for hope. Delaware voters will have Sarah McBride, a trans woman, representing them in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Hawaiʻi, Kim Coco Iwamoto will bring her lived experience to the legislature. Our local trans community will continue to work with its allies and policymakers to improve access to gender-affirming care. We will also do what we can to provide support to members of our community in need, including our kūpuna,” she added.   

A recent article from the Associated Press outlined the challenges facing trans advocates in the years ahead, including the removal of Title IX protections for trans students and a potential re-implementation of a ban on trans persons from serving in the military. The U.S. Supreme Court also heard oral arguments in early December regarding the ability of states to ban gender-affirming care for minors, with some noting that it will likely uphold such a ban in Tennessee.