Fairlawn West

The Cleveland area Transgender Day of Remembrance observance will be Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Cleveland City Hall at 6:00 pm.  This will be the 12th year that a vigil and observance has been held in Cleveland and the 4th year Illumination Awards have been handed out.  The Illumination Awards are given to individuals who help light the way to increased acceptance for the transgender community. Cleveland is the only TDOR, that we are aware of, that not only memorializes those who have been murdered due to hate but we also have a celebration of life to recognize those who have helped to propel the transgender community forward. 

The Rev. David Loar of Fairlawn West United Church of Christ, 2095 West Market Street, Akron will receive the "Cisgender Ally Award" which is one of the Illumination Awards.  This award is given to a cisgender* identified individual who has worked within the Northeast Ohio region through activism, advocacy, and educating in order to create a more inclusive community where all are accepted regardless of gender identity and expression. 
*where an individual's self-perception and presentation of their gender matches the behaviors and roles considered appropriate for one's sex

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.
Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender — that is, as a transsexual, 
crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgendered people.
We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred based violence, especially since the events of September 11th. Yet even now, the deaths of 
those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died
due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. This trend shows no sign of abating.
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. The Day of Remembrance 
reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. The 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." 
– by Gwendolyn Smith "Remembering our Dead Project."

Youtube videos from the 2011 observance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSdXpeFSfsY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES_k9FZVuXc


Jacob Nash                                                                 Christen L. DuVernay, MA, CDP
TDOR Committee                                                       TDOR Committee
Founder and President                                                 Director of Programs,
Margie's Hope Board of Directors                               The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
transactivist@sbcglobal.net                                         cduvernay@diversitycenterneo.org
P (330) 240-1600                                                        P (216) 752-3000 ext. 220