The International Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is held in local communities and campuses across the nation to memorialize those who have been killed due to anti-transgender bigotry. Many victims of anti-transgender violence have been invisible in their communities and attackers not often brought to justice. The 19th Annual TDOR brings together communities to mourn and honor victims of anti-transgender hate crimes and as a call to action towards the respect of all people regardless of gender identity or expression.
There have been at least 25 murders of trans people in the United States this year. On Tuesday, October 31st, Candace Towns was killed in Macon, GA. She was 30 years-old.
In Pennsylvania, we mourn and remember Maya Young, 25. She was recently stabbed to death in Philadelphia on February 20, 2016. In 2015, Pennsylvania mourned London Chanel, 21, and Kiesha Jenkins, 22, both black trans women who were killed in Philadelphia. In July 2013, another young trans woman, Diamond Williams, was brutally murdered in Philadelphia. The court case is ongoing in her murder. There have been countless known slayings of transgender people because of their identity around the world since last year. The TDOR website memorializes the murders of over 75 transgender individuals we are aware of in this past year.
Over 25 organized vigils have been held in communities throughout the commonwealth for TDOR in recent years. This was a large increase from just a few events held in Pittsburgh and Southeastern Pennsylvania before 2013.
November is also Transgender Awareness Month. Many communities are not just mourning those lost to violence, but celebrating and lifting up the lives of transgender people. There are wonderful educational and community events set to take place throughout Pennsylvania. Several student organizations are holding Transgender Awareness Weeks. Trans Day of Visibility is annually on March 31st.
Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigils in Pennsylvania
November 20th, 2017
Allentown
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center (522 West Maple Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Host: Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
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Annville
Lebanon Valley College (Miller Chapel Lobby), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: LVC Freedom Rings
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Bethlehem
Lehigh University (Williams Global Commons), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: Spectrum at Lehigh University
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Bethlehem
Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley (1401 Greenview Drive), November 21st, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Hosts: Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Renaissance
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Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (KUB Fireside Lounge), November 15th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Bloomsburg University of PA LGBTQA Resource Center
Bradford
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Wick Chapel), November 14th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Host: Pitt-Bradford Pride Alliance
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Carlisle
Dickinson College (Social Hall West), November 20th, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Host: Dickinson College LGBTQ Services
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Collegeville
Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (3424 Ridge Pike), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Host: Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
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Erie
Erie County Courthouse (140 West 6th Street), November 19th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Host: TransFamily of NWPA
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Glen Mills
The Green Church (1501 Middletown Road), November 20th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: PRYSM Youth Center of Delaware County, Imago Dei, The Green Church
Greensburg
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (Campana Chapel), November 15th, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Pitt Greensburg GSA
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Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State Capitol – Main Steps (3rd and State Streets), November 20th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Host: TransCentral PA
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Johnstown
Penn Highlands Community College (101 Community College Way), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: Penn Highlands Community College GSA
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Lancaster
Franklin & Marshall College (College Center – Atrium), November 20th, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Host: SAGA and the ADWC
Lancaster
Grace Unitarian Universalist Church (1947 New Holland Pike), November 20th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Grace Unitarian Universalist Church
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Lewisburg
Bucknell University (Science Quad), November 14th, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Bucknell GSA
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Meadville
Diamond Park, November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Pennsylvania Equality Project
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Milford
TriVersity Center (201 West Harford Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Host: TriVersity
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Philadelphia
Penn LGBT Center (3907 Spruce Street), November 15th, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Host: Penn LGBT Center, Penn CAPS
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Philadelphia
Not One More: Rally and Silent March: Starts at Philadelphia City Hall (3 South Penn Square) and ends at the William Way Community Center, November 20th, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Host: The Trans Equity Project – a program of GALAEI
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TDoR Vigil: William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: William Way Community Center
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Pittsburgh
Persad Center (5301 Butler Street), November 20th, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Hosts: TransPride Pittsburgh, Judah Fellowship, Persad Center, Trans YOUniting, and SisTers PGH
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Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh (William Pitt Union Patio + Lawn), November 16th, 9:00pm
Host: Pitt Rainbow Alliance
State College
Penn State University (Old Main Lawn), November 16th, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Host: Commission on LGBTQ Equity
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State College
Allen Street Gates (Allen Street and College Street), November 19th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Host: Centre LGBTQA Support Network
Washington
First Presbyterian Church (100 East Wheeling Street), November 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Washington County GSA, Inc.
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Williamsport
Lycoming College (The Quad), November 20th, 9:15pm – 10:15pm
Host: Lycoming College GSA
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West Chester
Unitarian Congregation of West Chester (501 South High Street), November 20th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Unitarian Congregation of West Chester
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York
Union Lutheran Church of York (501 South High Street), November 20th, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Host: Union Lutheran Church of York
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November 2017 Transgender Awareness Events
Lewisburg: Lexi Adsit
Bucknell Unviersity (Commons), November 16th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Bucknell GSA, LACOS, and Unite & Inspire
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Philadelphia: GenderTalk
Claudia Cohen Hall (249 South 36th Street), November 15th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Host: Penn Non-Cis
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Pittsburgh: The “THIC Event” (Trans History in Color)
Sanctuary Pittsburgh (5015 Penn Avenue), November 20th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host: Garden of Peace Project
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Titusville: Tyler Titus
University of Pittsburgh at Titusville (McKinney Commons), November 20th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
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State College: Penn State Trans Visibility Month
Wednesday, November 1st — Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, reception at 4:30 p.m., keynote speech at 5 p.m., 233B HUB-Robeson Center
Monday, November 13th — Transgender Information Exchange/HUB Takeover, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ground Floor Stage, HUB-Robeson Center
Tuesday, November 14th — Pennsylvania Youth Congress (PYC) Panel Discussion, 7 p.m., 104 Rackley Building. PYC is an advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating discrimination against LGBTQ youth through public policy initiatives.
Tuesday, November 14th — Third Way Collective Transgender Clothing Exchange, 1-4 p.m., location TBA
Wednesday, November 15th — “Discovering Crystal,” movie and panel discussion, 6 p.m., 102 Paterno Library (Foster Auditorium). The film chronicles the beginning of one teen’s transition process. A discussion with the director and Crystal’s family will follow the viewing.
Thursday, November 16th — “How to Support Your Transgender Employees — an Update from Intel Corporation,” 8-9:30 p.m. Join us online at https://meeting.psu.edu/ler_webinars/.
Sunday, November 19th — Community Transgender Day of Remembrance, 1 p.m. at the Allen Street gates
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If you would like to add your event to this page, please email us at info@payouthcongress.org.