John,

Yesterday we paused to honor the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to remember and mourn the lives of transgender people lost to violence in the last year. In 2022 alone, at least 69 transgender and gender non-conforming individuals have been lost to anti-trans violence in the U.S., with potentially more lost but unknown. In 2019, the American Medical Association categorized these losses as an "epidemic" - and it is one that has only continued to spread as anti-trans rhetoric solidifies as the bedrock of the extremist right.

Rhetoric never just exists in a vacuum. It is never just one bill in a session, one post on social media. Hate speech leads to violent actions - and the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs experienced that violence this Sunday. The night before our community was supposed to reflect on the lives we have lost and celebrate the resilience of the LGBTQ community, five more lives were needlessly taken and many were injured by a gunman at Club Q.

Each of these souls were robbed of their right to exist. In a world that far too often singles out LGBTQ people, and especially transgender people, it is our duty to remember those lost - and do everything we can to ensure more are not claimed by violence.

Too many names, lost too soon. We stand in solidarity and in mourning with Colorado's LGBTQ community, the trans community and our LGBTQ elected officials in Colorado who are searching for answers and solutions. We support them in times of trial, such as these, and times of triumph. Their leadership and contributions cannot be overstated. If you would like to watch an interview with Colorado state Representative Brianna Titone, the first out trans person elected to the Colorado legislature, you can do so here.

Hold each other close today, and remember to say the names of those we have lost.

Thank you,

Elliot Imse
Pronouns: he|him|his
Executive Director, LGBTQ Victory Institute