Trans Day of Remembrance is a day we remember and honor all the trans lives we have lost to violence in the past year. This year feels especially difficult, as we have lost two Latina trans women here in Washington: Rikkey “Tru Starlet” Outomuro in Centralia, and Zoey Martinez in Maple Valley, both fatally shot.

At least 46 trans people have been murdered this year in the U.S., disproportionately Black and brown trans women and sex workers: making this the deadliest year on record for our community. We say ‘at least’ because often these stories are unreported or misreported. Each one of these 46 people had value: they were friends, loved ones, and community members.

As we mourn these valuable lives lost, we also remember to celebrate the trans & gender diverse communities across Washington and beyond that tenaciously survive and fight for our collective liberation from the structures that seek to destroy us. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for being part of the movement to ensure trans survival, wellbeing, and livelihood.