Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day held to honor those who have passed as a result of anti-transgender violence.<\/p>\n
TDOR is held annually nationwide on Nov. 20 and was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith, according to glaad.org\/tdor.<\/p>\n
Myekale Novy, president of the Brite Signal Alliance club at Sinclair\u00a0 Community College said this is one of the first times that the event on campus has fallen on the respective date.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s an organization that collects names worldwide of transgendered [individuals] who have lost their life due to hate crimes,\u201d he said. \u201cWe use it as a time to remember those that we have lost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Novy said an individual is transgendered when his or her identity differs from the gender that they were biologically born.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an internal fight that many deal with,\u201d he said. \u201cTrying to be true to yourself, and at the same time, trying to be safe and trying to protect yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Novy said there are transgendered students on campus and knowledge and awareness of transgender is important at the college.<\/p>\n
During the event, a film screening entitled \u201cAustin Unbound\u201d is going to be held in the Green Room in Building 2, Room 334, following a candlelit vigil in the quad.<\/p>\n
Novy said \u201cAustin Unbound\u201d is about a transgendered man who is deaf. In the screening it shows a woman and her transgendered progression into becoming a man.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt shows the struggles he has gone through to get where he is now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Novy said there will also be a short meet-and-greet starting at 6 p.m. before the screening, following a Q and A panel afterward.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce all that has been completed, we will have a candlelit vigil where we will have the reading of the names,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend both the film screening and the vigil.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as it is known, it can\u2019t be ignored,\u201d he said. \u201cThis does happen, regardless of where you are in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brittany West, vice president and secretary of BSA, said she believes the day is held for support.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople in the community can see that there are people that are going to come,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause they care and they want to help, and they want to be supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Novy said that because he is a pacifist type who does not like confrontation, knowing that the event is focused on awareness is a great way to spread knowledge, while also educating people who attend about the issues facing those who are transgendered.<\/p>\n
Novy said the remembrance of this day is just as important as remembering anyone else who has passed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only remembering who, but why in certain situations; we have Veterans Day and Memorial Day to remember those who have fought for our country and all that they have done,\u201d he said. \u201cFor the same reason, we have TDOR because all in all, we are one huge, big, happy family.\u201d<\/p>\n