Dear John,

On this Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), Urgent Action Fund honors all those we have lost to transphobic violence. 

At least 375 trans and gender diverse people were murdered this year. Today, all over the world, the names of the known victims will be read out loud in ceremonies, gatherings, and memorials to honor them. We ask that you join us and say their names. And recognize the many more whose names we do not know. Recognize those who were murdered and the police choose not to record it or who live in countries and under political regimes that deny they ever even existed. 

Honor them all. Honor the full lives they led. Honor those they loved and were loved by. Honor the courage they displayed to live so fully, in their truths. Honor their right to the most basic of human rights - the right to live. A right unjustly and cruelly denied. Do not let their legacy be denied. Remember them all.

We remember and mourn those we lost and we stand firmly in our commitment to supporting the safety and security of trans and gender diverse human rights defenders. Who, in spite of the threats they face, continue to stand and to fight for the rights of us all. We ask that you tell our trans community activists - if their security is threatened because of their activism, we can be a resource. Activists can apply for a Rapid Response security grant.  

Our grants are small. They are a small act when much bigger action and more resources are needed. But we commit to it, out of hope. Hope that with each small act of resourcing we can give is a name that will not be on next year’s list. Hope that someday, we will no longer be forced to hold a day of remembrance but instead - a day to celebrate our collective liberation. Hope that it can live up to honoring the legacies of those we lost.

We know you are finally free now. And we miss you.