MTSU will hold a ceremony in appreciation of people who were killed because of their gender identity.

MT Lambda, an all-inclusive LGBTQ+ student organization, will host the 2021 Transgender Day of Remembrance at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, on the Student Union Commons. Remote participation is available via videoconference at https://bit.ly/3Fd4POm.

Dr. Will Langston

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 to memorialize the lives of transgender people lost to violence. Many of the perpetrators of violence were looking to erase the existence of the persons they killed.

“Police and news reports frequently render victims’ identities invisible through their reporting,” said William Langston, faculty adviser to MT Lambda and a professor of psychology.

“An important part of the MTSU event is to recognize the people we have lost to violence, to reflect for a moment on each individual life and celebrate it and to say their names so they are not forgotten.”

Langston said 44 transgender people were lost to violence in the United States in 2020. So far in 2021, at least 45 members of the transgender community have been killed.

Since the event will be outdoors, warm clothing is recommended. For more information, contact Langston at william.langston@mtsu.edu or mtlambda@mtsu.edu.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)