Transgender Day of Remembrance, EMAs, Joanna Cherry and other LGBTQIA+ stories this week

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RIP to 375 gender diverse people murdered this year 🕯️

375 transgender people were killed this year (2021), a figure that has risen since last year’s total of 350.

Indeed, in a figure which has risen every year I've reported on it since working in the LGBTQ media for five years. It's a sad time, but a vital moment to reflect on.

The annual list, released for Transgender Day of Remembrance, found one in four of those murdered were killed in their own home. In the place, where we should all feel our safest.

The report authors say this makes 2021 the 'deadliest year' of violence against gender diverse people since records began.

The report notes that the numbers indicate a worrying trend when it comes to the intersections of misogyny, racism, xenophobia, and hate towards sex workers.

It found that most victims were Black and migrant trans women of colour and trans sex workers. Nine in ten (96%) of those murdered globally were trans women or transfeminine people. Over half (58%) of those murdered were sex workers, and four in ten were European migrants (43%).

The report's release follows several years of human rights organisations worldwide recording yearly rises in violence against transgender people.

That includes here in the UK, where rising transphobia driven by the press, is being echoed in policy decisions. It's even spilling out onto the streets in the form of rising hate crimes.

And, critically, knowing this context - it's even scarier to know this year's death toll is likely to only be the tip of the iceberg.

The list is compiled by Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide (TvT), a TGEU project, by sourcing local and national news stories covering the deaths and murders.

But because many hate crimes and murders go unreported or, crucially, misreported in the media, the actual number of deaths could be far higher - Forbes.

The International Transgender Day Of Remembrance is held as this reaches your inbox, on November 20, 2021.

Vigils are usually held in person all around the world. Still, due to the pandemic and varying levels of lockdowns and restrictions, our community is expected to take to both social media as well as IRL events to join together in grief and remembrance.

Remember with us. Share your solidarity, love, and care with our transgender and gender diverse family. #TDOR - #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance

375 Transgender People Murdered In 2021-‘Deadliest Year’ Since Records Began

The annual global list of gender diverse people murdered is released for Transgender Day of Remembrance, held on November 20 each year.

ForbesJamie Wareham

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