Honoring the Trans Community: Reflections on Love, Loss, and Advocacy
- Christopher McCormick
- Nov 19
- 4 min read
Ashley, Eli, Honey, Zan, Jay, Zech, CeCe, Kye, Dylan, Britt, Quin, Tiss, CJ, Taylor, Gio, Jaq, Spear, Boris, Tre, Tye, Bobbee, Echo… I could go on. I consider myself blessed to know these fierce, bold, brilliant, and beautiful friends who are part of my extended family—Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse individuals.
As we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, I reflect on the strength of the trans community. Living in San Francisco, I’m reminded of the Compton Cafeteria Riots, a pivotal moment that ignited a revolution before Stonewall. In conjunction with Transgender Awareness Week (November 13–19), these observances invite us to honor and support our Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse friends.
According to the latest data from Trans Murder Monitoring, from November 20, 2024, to September 30, 2025, there were:
- 281 reported murders of trans and gender-diverse individuals.
- About 90% were femicides, primarily affecting trans women or transfeminine individuals.
- 34% of victims were women of color.
While these statistics underscore the ongoing violence against the trans community and the urgent need for advocacy, they also represent a human being who’s life was taken too soon. They are Ashley, Eli, Tre, Tye, and the CJ’s of the world that aren’t just part of my life. They are part of yours too. In the U.S., right-wing conservatives frequently target the trans community, despite the global trans population being only 0.6-3%. The amount of hate they face daily is appalling.
Every day, hate and violence loom as threats for those who dare to live authentically. Yet amidst this darkness, love shines brightly. Embracing and accepting ourselves illuminates every interaction. As Sylvester powerfully stated,
"You’ve got to be who you are. You can’t hide your light under a bushel.’ Let’s celebrate that light by fostering acceptance in our communities."
San Francisco is a city rich in LGBTQIA+ history, with trans individuals at the forefront of the fight for rights, starting with the Compton Cafeteria Riots. It’s also home to the world’s only “Transgender District.” Yet, we still mourn those lost to violence and hate. It breaks my heart that society debates bathroom access and who deserves dignity and respect.
Wouldn’t it be joyous to fight over who shows more love and respect to their neighbors? I remember seeing Olympia Dukakis as Anna Madrigal in Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin—a groundbreaking portrayal of a transgender character with dignity when many others were depicted negatively.
What are you doing to create space for people who are different from you? How are you welcoming ideas and differences to your conversations? How are you standing up for what you think is important for the people in your life? Advocating for our Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse friends as real people with real feelings may be the next path you consider taking, if you haven’t already.
Here are possible ways you can consider or support:
- Read a book or watch a movie that highlights trans stories
- Volunteer at local events
- Amplify positive social media posts
- Speak up and out against hate
- Promote normalization and understanding
- Seek out intersectionality when advocating
Some Resources for Advocacy
As I look to the future, I think about The GenderCool Project, a youth-led movement replacing misinformation with positive experiences of transgender and nonbinary youth.
The youth of today, the leaders of tomorrow, urge us:
“Respect one another, and decide that today is the day everything changes.”
I’ll leave you with a portion of the “Dear Mama Letter” from Tales of the City that beautifully encapsulates acceptance and love.
“Dear Mama,
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write. Every time I try to write to you and Papa I realize I'm not saying the things that are in my heart. That would be O.K., if I loved you any less than I do, but you are still my parents and I am still your child.
San Francisco is full of men and women, both straight and gay, who don't consider sexuality in measuring the worth of another human being.
These aren't radicals or weirdos, Mama. They are shop clerks and bankers and little old ladies and people who nod and smile to you when you meet them on the bus. Their attitude is neither patronizing nor pitying. And their message is so simple: Yes, you are a person. Yes, I like you. Yes, it’s all right for you to like me, too.
I know what you must be thinking now. You're asking yourself: What did we do wrong? How did we let this happen? Which one of us made him that way?
I can't answer that, Mama. In the long run, I guess I really don't care. All I know is this: If you and Papa are responsible for the way I am, then I thank you with all my heart, for it's the light and the joy of my life.”
Additional Resources/Statistics
Here is a list of recommended books, movies, and advocacy resources related to the transgender experience, providing education, personal narratives, and tools for advocacy.
Books
These books cover a wide range of genres and age groups, from educational guides and memoirs to fiction.
Books offering insights include Trans Bodies, Trans Selves by Laura Erickson-Schroth and Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution by Susan Stryker, both educational resources. Memoirs and essays like Julia Serano's Whipping Girl and Kate Bornstein's Gender Outlaw provide personal perspectives. True stories such as Becoming Nicole by Amy Nutt and Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride share individual and family experiences. Fiction includes Torrey Peters' Detransition, Baby and Kacen Callender's young adult novel Felix Ever After. For younger audiences, I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel & Jazz Jennings is a picture book.
Movies and Documentaries
Films offering insights into transgender lives and history.
Documentaries include Disclosure, which examines Hollywood's portrayal of transgender people, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, highlighting key figures in the LGBTQ+ movement, Born to Be focusing on transgender surgery, and Changing the Game about high school transgender athletes. Narrative films like Boys Don't Cry (drama) and Tangerine (comedy/drama) explore different aspects of transgender experiences.
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