They died to galvanize progress

3EFC2649-0748-4A80-9437-0A6AC69DFE97Nearly 30 transgender people in this year alone have returned to the non-physical realm in daring and courageous ways in support of the transgender community. I’m thrilled with the progress they have contributed to the community and the world at large, as more people realize the need to further embrace transgender people. It’s been a little over a week since the Transgender Day of Remembrance. So it’s apt to recall these people.

It seems tragic to think these 30 people “lost” their lives. However, death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. Nor is dying at the hands of a murderer. This is hard to get, but a broader perspective will show that all 30 of these gallant, courageous people traded a relatively minor experience (from the perspective of the eternal, powerful beings we are) in order to trigger greater change in physical reality.

So it is from that perspective that we honor these people by listing them here on our site. They have done a LOT to make most of what is happening in society possible.

To them we say thanks!

  1. India Monroe, 29, was murdered on Dec. 21, 2016 in Newport News, Virginia
  2. Mesha Caldwell, 41, Canton, Mississippi
  3. Sean Ryan Hake, 23, Sharon, Pennsylvania
  4. Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  5. JoJo Striker, 23, Toledo, Ohio
  6. Tiara Richmond, also known as Keke Collier, 24, Chicago
  7. Chyna Gibson, also known as Chyna Doll Dupree, 31, New Orleans
  8. Ciara McElveen, 26, New Orleans
  9. Jaquarrius Holland, 18, Monroe, Louisiana
  10. Alphonza Watson, 38, Baltimore, Maryland
  11. Chay Reed, 28, Miami
  12. Kenneth Bostick, 59, Manhattan
  13. Sherrell Faulkner, 46, Charlotte, North Carolina
  14. Kenne McFadden, 27,  San Antonio
  15. Kendra Marie Adams, 28
  16. Ava Le’Ray Barrin, 17, Athens, Georgia
  17. Ebony Morgan, 28, Lynchburg, Virginia
  18. Tee Tee Dangerfield, 32, Atlanta, Georgia
  19. Gwynevere River Song, 26, Waxahachie, Texas
  20. Kiwi Herring, 30, was killed during an altercation with police on August 22
  21. Pepper K. Aka Phoenix, 33, Columbus, Ohio
  22. Kashmire Nazier Redd, 28, was fatally stabbed by his partner on September 5
  23. Derricka Banner, 26, Charlotte, North Carolina
  24. Scout Schultz, 21, was shot and killed by Georgia Tech campus police on September 16
  25. Ally Steinfeld, 17, was stabbed to death in Missouri in early September
  26. Stephanie Montez, 47, Robstown, Texas
  27. Candace Towns, 30, Macon, Georgia