Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, established to remember transgender individuals who have been killed by hate crimes. This is the first year that I’ve heard about this particular day of remembrance (established in 1999), and I’m ashamed to admit that I know very little about transgender issues. So I took to the internet to learn more.
I would typically aim to only write a blog post if I felt as though I’d come away with a particularly compelling point to make or a story to tell, but after a couple of hours of reading up on transgender issues, I still have more to learn. There are a lot of compelling stories to tell – and it was hard to focus on just one. From the complexities of raising children whose gender identity does not match their physical gender, to facing discrimination in the workforce, to health care, to voting, to the persistent threat of physical violence – the transgender community faces extremely complicated issues.
Today is a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives due to hate crimes against transgendered individuals. If passing this along prompts just one other person to type “transgender issues” into their search engine to seek out information and gain a better understanding of an often misunderstood community, I hope that contributes to the memorial in some small way.
chrisbykate 
Thanks for this. I was having trouble thinking of how to write what. The problems are too great to number and very difficult to understand for many. I think you did a good job… from what I know of the issues… and I know very little.
I wanted to comment on the day, because it was the first time that I had heard of it, but I didn’t have anything intelligent to say. Then as I started to research and considered the wide variety of issues, I realized how complicated transgender lives are – and I still had nothing intelligent to say.
I really appreciate your comment and reblog!
The issues that transgendered folk face are nuanced and complex from what I have learned. Their frame of reference is nothing like what most people call ‘normal’ so it makes it difficult for even honest seekers to understand. I believe that if my world view is to be correct, it should be correct for all of us, not simply my ‘in group’ so I am trying and it’s good to see others doing so too.
Reblogged this on myatheistlife and commented:
This post has good sentiment. Even as I struggle to understand the issues that transgendered people face, I’m constantly reminded that I cannot really know in the ways that they do. I try to be supportive and sensitive to these special issues. It’s not easy. So, today I salute those who suffer mostly in silence for the heart and backbone they have shown, with little if any support, and communities who vilify them. There are good links in the post. Visit, search, learn.