Central United Methodist Church of Detroit hosted the Transgender Day of Remembrance service this evening. A major portion of the service was to read the names of transgender persons who had been murdered worldwide in the last year. There was a display of about 250 candles with one being lit with each name. Tina Seitz, who sent me the poster for the service, was one of the readers. I am very aware these are only the reported cases of transgender murders. Many places, such as the Middle East and eastern Africa, wouldn't bother reporting such deaths. The actual death toll for simply not conforming to gender expectations is, I'm sure, far higher. Yes, the number above is for one year.
A transgender woman named Michelle or Shelley was murdered in Detroit last month. The news report included a photo and she looked vaguely familiar. I checked with the staff at the Ruth Ellis Center (where I volunteer) and they said she had been a regular. That means I likely served supper to her. Shelley's mother was one of this evening's speakers. She didn't speak long and we thanked her heartily for coming while the wound to her soul is so fresh. The other main speaker was Sylvia Guerrero, whose transgender daughter was murdered close to a decade ago. George Jonte and Rev. Delores Berry provided some music, with George singing God Help the Outcasts from the Disney movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Rev. Ed. Rowe provided a stirring benediction.
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