Trans Day Of Remembrance Won’t Be Around Forever.

I am both pessimistic and hopeful. In the aftermath of the Trans Day of Remembrance, The Advocate asked me to share my thoughts about why.

The Advocate: Today is Trans Day of Remembrance, or to some, Trans Day of Resilience. Which moniker do you prefer, and why? 

Imara Jones: Trans Day of Remembrance. It’s easier to say and is as equally meaningful to me.

How can we honor the lives of victims of anti-trans violence?

We can honor their lives by stopping anti-trans violence, specifically by holding the wider society accountable for the wide array of policies, laws, and cultural practices which give license to those who wish to do us harm. And we can massively invest in trans communities in the areas of economic opportunity, housing, health care, and education to reduce the marginalization of trans people, which contributes to us being targeted.

Tell us about TransLash and its mission.

TransLash is a cross-platform media project which tells the stories of trans people, specifically trans people of color, at a time of social backlash. As a journalism and personal narrative project we create content, events, and resources to center the humanity of trans people and increase empathy. Our goal is to drive a cultural shift in order to save trans lives. 

Are you hopeful there will be fewer victims to honor in 2020?

Sadly, I am not. We live in world which is too permissive of the violence against us. The United States has the highest levels of trans murders on the planet except for Brazil and Mexico. This fact reflects deep structural problems in this country which must be resolved over time. However. I am very hopeful. That’s because we continue to exist, to become stronger and to link with those who believe in us. This combination is why at some point I am confident that Trans Day of Remembrance will be a thing of the past. 

*Adapted from an article in The Advocate

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TransLash tells trans stories to save trans lives. As a trusted source for journalists, thought-leaders, movement activists, researchers, and those wanting to know about trans people, we produce narratives about and for the trans community—accurately and reliably. At a time when disinformation about trans people is being used to undermine democracy and human rights, TransLash Media serves as a beacon of hope through the voices that we share with the world.

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TransLash tells trans stories to save trans lives. As a trusted source for journalists, thought-leaders, movement activists, researchers, and those wanting to know about trans people, we produce narratives about and for the trans community—accurately and reliably. At a time when disinformation about trans people is being used to undermine democracy and human rights, TransLash Media serves as a beacon of hope through the voices that we share with the world.

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