ASU's Rainbow Coalition and the ASU LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association partnered to honor the 25th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil.
Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender advocate, established the day in 1999 to honor the death of Rita Hester and other individuals who died as a result of transphobic violence, according to GLAAD.
Seren Nutt, the interim vice president for the ASU LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association, said they observed the day on the Downtown Phoenix campus with a vigil to honor those who have died in the past year. The organizations filled Civic Space Park with candles, transgender pride flags and posters for people to read about those who lost their lives.
"We're here to remember trans folks, our siblings, our ancestors and our elders who have not survived the last year due to trans violence, transphobia and queer hate," Nutt said.
They said with the recent political climate, a lot of hate and violence toward transgender individuals has grown.
"Since 2016 specifically, trans violence against trans folks has gone up exponentially," Nutt said. "That makes community more important than ever because the one thing that can't be taken is each other and our dedication to each other and our love for each other."
Lauryn Silas, a sophomore studying medical studies who attended the event, said holding vigils like these is important for remembrance and encouraging people to feel comfortable with themselves.
"Sometimes people forget what's really important," Silas said. "It's really good to remind them that they can be comfortable in their own skin. They can live."
During the vigil, Eli Keeling, an enrollment coach for ASU, spoke and shared his story of understanding and embracing his gender identity because of the friend he had.
"He was really the person who helped me come to understand my own identity before I was really ready to ask those questions directly," Keeling said. "I realized that I didn't want my nephew to grow up thinking I was somebody else, other than who I am, and I made the decision to come out."
Having a day and an event to honor those who have died because of transphobic hate and violence is important in continuing to support the LGBTQ+ community, he said.
"Spaces like this are really what keep each other going at the end of the day," Keeling said. "It is really essential to remember that these small community connections are really the backbone of our history."
For people struggling with their identity, finding a supportive community is important, Keeling said. He said connecting to LGBTQ+ individuals helped him understand and feel comfortable with expressing his identity and taught him how important it is to have those conversations with himself.
"The first thing I would really recommend is remembering that your gender is a massive part of your identity, and it is only a part of your identity," Keeling said. "It doesn't mean that the other parts of you are going to fade away, disappear, or die."
Nutt said they wanted the vigil to remind people who are struggling or a part of the LGBTQ+ community that they are not alone and that they can find community around them.
"The other trans folks who live in your area, they're out there and they want you. They want you to be part of their lives," Nutt said. "You are wanted."
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Edited by Senna James, Abigail Beck, Tiya Talwar, Alysa Horton and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at alillest@asu.edu and follow @allylillestol on X.
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Allison is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication. This is her first semester at The State Press. She has also worked at Arizona PBS and Blaze Radio.
