Transgender Day of Remembrance this Sunday

Falcon Heights Church will observe Transgender Day of Remembrance Sunday, Nov. 19, during 10:30 a.m. worship.

Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman, began the annual remembrance in 1999. Her purpose was to memorialize the murder of a transgender woman, Rita Hester, in Allston, Massachusetts. This Sunday, we will light candles and read the names of those who have been killed in transphobia-motivated violence this past year.

In addition, during coffee hour after worship, the tables will have cards with trans facts for worshipers to read and take with them.

Falcon Heights Church, United Church of Christ, is an Open and Affirming church. In fact, we recently recommitted ourselves to inclusion and justice for all of the LGBTQ community. We also adopted an expanded Open and Affirming statement. It recognizes people of any gender identification and gender expression as “equal recipients of God’s love.”

At a time when rights and protections for transgender, gender non-conforming, and genderqueer citizens are increasingly under attack, we believe it is important to take a stand.

The annual date of the Day of Remembrance is Nov. 20. Each year, the national United Church of Christ and its Open and Affirming Coalition have urged congregations to renew their commitment to welcome and advocate for the transgender community.