As I thought today of the lives that ended all too soon, I thought of so many others, some of whom I have known personally, whose lives never reached full potential.
The rate of suicide, depression and suicidal ideation in the transgender community is astronomical. Especially, I think each day of a close friend of mine. She made her first suicide attempt in 1996. There were three subsequent suicide attempts, leaving her confined to a wheelchair to this day. The last time I saw her, she showed me the scars on her wrists.
I have thought a thousand times of how I should have picked up the warning signs; was there something I could have done and did not? Most probably, yes. She was such a brilliant woman, yet she never found the happiness she craved.
When any life is not given a chance to bloom, it is a loss for each of us. As has been said, we light candles this evening for our transgendered brothers and sisters. In reality, the candles are lit for anyone who is persecuted because of who they are.
My candle is also lit for this dear friend. I think of you often, I miss you and wish I had been there for you!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Our Day of Remembrance
Tuesday, November 20 is The Transgender Day Of Remembrance. It is a day set aside to commemorate those transgender men and women who have been victims of the ultimate act of violence.
This event began in 1998 to commemorate the murder of Rita Hester in Boston, MA from multiple stab wounds. Her murder remains unsolved. Unfortunately, she was not the last. It is fitting and proper those of us in the transgender community would pause and remember those among us who's life journey was all too short.
As we pause tomorrow, let us remember that when anyone, anywhere is persecuted because of who they are, it must forever remain unacceptable.
We have had much discussion on ENDA, we engage in outreach at the social level and we speak of pride in ourselves at the personal level. At the core of all forms of outreach is the fundamental issue of human dignity.
May we develop a renewed respect for the dignity of others who are different from ourselves. May we also develop a renewed sense of self respect. In doing so, we are able to offer compassion to those around us who are hurting and in need. It's the very least we can do for our fellow human beings......and ourselves.
This link to a short video by Rev. Erin Swinson sums the day far more eloquently than I could.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzDGzbZICA0
For anyone incined, this link is to Gwen Smith's moving site, "Remembering Our Dead".
http://www.gender.org/remember/index.html#
This event began in 1998 to commemorate the murder of Rita Hester in Boston, MA from multiple stab wounds. Her murder remains unsolved. Unfortunately, she was not the last. It is fitting and proper those of us in the transgender community would pause and remember those among us who's life journey was all too short.
As we pause tomorrow, let us remember that when anyone, anywhere is persecuted because of who they are, it must forever remain unacceptable.
We have had much discussion on ENDA, we engage in outreach at the social level and we speak of pride in ourselves at the personal level. At the core of all forms of outreach is the fundamental issue of human dignity.
May we develop a renewed respect for the dignity of others who are different from ourselves. May we also develop a renewed sense of self respect. In doing so, we are able to offer compassion to those around us who are hurting and in need. It's the very least we can do for our fellow human beings......and ourselves.
This link to a short video by Rev. Erin Swinson sums the day far more eloquently than I could.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzDGzbZICA0
For anyone incined, this link is to Gwen Smith's moving site, "Remembering Our Dead".
http://www.gender.org/remember/index.html#
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