John–

As a non-binary person in America, I have seen the positivity, visibility, and creation of spaces where we are celebrated for who we are. But I have also seen continued and increasing violence against people like me. I first experienced violent transphobia at the age of nine, and in September of last year, I lost my friend Bailey Reeves, a 17-year-old trans woman, to gun violence.

And now, with at least 30 homicides, 2020 is the deadliest year on record for transgender Americans.

That's why on this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we need to be clear: violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people is a gun violence issue.

Guns are the most frequently used weapon in the murder of trans and gender non-conforming people. And whether we're talking about hate crimes, domestic violence, or firearm suicide, strenghthening our nation's gun safety laws is a necessary step in keeping the trans community—and all Americans—safe from violence. Sign up today to volunteer with us and join the fight to end gun violence.

And John, it's impossible to talk about violence against the trans and non-binary community without talking about the Black trans women who are hit hardest. Each year, Black trans women account for the vast majority of homicide victims in the trans community. We face a dual crisis—being persecuted for our skin color and our gender identity. And to make matters worse, our stories are continually ignored by the media. But these challenges haven't stopped us from fighting before, and they won’t stop us now.

So while today is about collective grieving, it is also about collective action. With your help, we can fight not only violence, but also the deliberate policy decisions that contribute to it.

John, the violence trans and gender non-conforming people face is only getting worse. We need solutions and we need them now.

With your help, we can make that change possible.

Thank you for being a part of this movement, and thank you for honoring the lives of trans and gender non-conforming people with action.

Destini Philpot
They/them/theirs
Baltimore Students Demand Action