Each year the LGBTQI+ community in many places mark November 20th as Transgender day of Remembrance (TDOR) where we remember and raise our voices for the countless fallen transgender and gender queer individuals who were tortured, murdered, raped, died of suicide or died because of poverty and homelessness in a society that would rather not have them.
There have been 392 reported deaths of transgender individuals covering September 2022 to October 2023 in 43 countries majority of which come from Latin American countries, highest of which is Brazil at 107 individuals killed or died of suicide, followed by the United States with 62, Mexico with 53and Colombia with 21. Here in the Philippines we have 8 reported.
But we know that in reality there are many more who were and are not reported or known. Some of those in the list were nameless. TDOR reminds us of the real and present danger of being transgender or gender queer in many places especially in developing countries such as the Philippines and many Latin American countries and in Islamic states like Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Pakistan as well as in the Arab and African countries. We are also reminded of the many other struggles of transgender people with the lack or limited economic opportunities and social services while experiencing continuous discrimination and facing the constant threat of violence everywhere. Open Table MCC as part of the 1st and oldest Christian denomination founded on the acceptance of LGBTQI+ people, we share in the sorrow and the indignation for the murder of our transgender sisters, brothers and siblings. From the 397 reports we have listed 69 names.
Holy and Loving One, we lift up to you these names of our transgender siblings and doing so remember them. We lift up to you their names, their stories, their struggles and their horrible death. No one should ever be abused and murdered because of their gender identity and expression yet this is the reality of our world today.
And so we pronounce some of their names in solemn remembrance:
Juriana Sison Orario, Age 37, 4 September 2023,
Bacolod, Negros Occidental (Philippines). Died from shooting incident.
M. Rosa Mamauag, Age 60, 4 September 2023, Cauayan City, Isabela (Philippines). Victim of violence, was shot three times on his own house.
J. Amihan, Age 51, 17 August 2023, Butuan, Agusan Del Norte (Philippines). Murdered, body was found burned.
J. Pamudulan, Age 28, 17 August 2023, San Pascual, Batangas (Philippines). Strangled.
K. B. Misador, Age 25, 8 January 2023, Ballesteros, Cagayan (Philippines). A teacher who was stabbed to death by minors, one of them a former student.
Elaine Englis. Age 39, 31 December 2022, Cebu City (Philippines). Stabbed by his abusive partner.
J. Royos, Age 15, 13 November 2022, Bogo City, Cebu (Philippines). Stabbed.
Samantha Nicole Quirino, Age 32, 22 October 2022, Cuyo, Palawan (Philippines), Hanged.
Neelu, Age 25, 29 September 2023, Jaipur, Rajasthan (India). Strangled and burned to death.
Raja Patra, Age around 15 to 18, 27 August 2023, Rajamunda, Odisha (India). Victim of deliberate a hit and run.
Rath Kisan, Age around 19 to 25, 27 August 2023, Rajamunda, Odisha (India). Victim of deliberate a hit and run.
Rehana, Age 23, 16 July 2023, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (India). Died by suicide.
Priya, 3 July 2023, Gurugram, Haryana (India). Died by suicide.
Khushi, Age 26, 29 June 23, New Delhi (India). Found dead with a stab wound to the chest.
Dolly, 20 June 23, Hyderabad, Telangana (India). Murdered by partner, stoned and stabbed.
Sofia, 20 June 23, Hyderabad, Telangana (India). Stoned and stabbed.
Saba, 18 May 2023, Mysore, Karnataka (India). Died by suicide.
Praveen Nath, 4 May 2023, Thrissur, Kerala (India). A transman body builder died by suicide by taking poison.
Bebo, 1 May 2023, Age around 30, Bhiwandi, Maharashtra (India). Murdered by partner, bludgeoned to death.
Lichi, 3 March 2023, Age 50, New Delhi (India). Suffocated to death.
Sana, 23 February 2023, Age 29, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India). Found in an abandoned lot with her throat cut.
Praneetha, 21 January 2023, Age 29, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh (India). Died by suicide, after a fight due to partner’s infidelity.
Pinki, 15 January 23, New Delhi (India). Found dead with her throat slit.
Minal, 10 January 23, Age 22, New Delhi (India). Stabbed to death.
Babul Mridha, 4 September 23, Age 60, Shariatpur, Dhaka (Bangladesh). Stabbed by unidentified assailants who broke into her home.
Dustu, 30 June 23, Age 25, Brahmanbaria, Chittagong (Bangladesh). Died after being beaten by her partner.
Name Unknown, 19 February 2023, Gazipur (Bangladesh). Stabbed.
Nazma Akhtar, 9 November 2022, Age 30, Chittagong (Bangladesh). Victim of shooting incident.
Joyeey Akter Nagini, 9 October 2022, Age 20, Chittagong (Bangladesh). Strangled by her partner, who then left her body in a field.
Mala, 20 March 2023, Age 43, Riau (Indonesia). Strangled by a truck driver.
Alya, 16 March 2023, Age 32, Tapin, South Kalimantan (Indonesia). Beaten and killed by her boyfriend after she accused him of infidelity.
Tante Butet, 3 October 2022, Age 50, Bekasi, Jawab Barat (Indonesia). Murdered in her salon by an employee.
Katherine Massiel Rivera (“Julia”), 8 July 2023, Age 33, Esteli (Nicaragua). Died from a heart attack, however her body had sustained a blow to the back of the head. Found dead near a night club.
Ariel Mendoza, 7 April 2023, Age 36, Managua (Nicaragua). Found with signs of violence, semi-burned in a vacant lot.
Juana Mena Hernández, 7 March 2023, Age 23, Masaya (Nicaragua). Died after being beaten by her partner.
Laiq, 20 September 23, Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan). Killed from shooting, was sacked and thrown into the river.
Kamrany, 6 July 2023, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan), Died in hospital two months after being shot. She sustained 7 bullets.
Mahnoor, 19 February 2023, Mingora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan). Victim of firing incident.
Mishi, 12 February 2023, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan). Ambushed by a gunman and a victim of honour killing.
Z. A., 5 February 2023, Rawalpindi, Punjab (Pakistan), Body found suspiciously hanging in a house.
Name Unknown, 22 January 2023, Karachi, Sindh (Pakistan). Found dumped in bushes with their hands tied and a noose around their neck.
Aaiyza, 23 December 22, Bahawalpur, Punjab (Pakistan). Victim of shooting incident.
Campanilla, 15 September 2023, Age 28, Guayaquil, Guayas (Ecuador). Shot in the head in a hitman style attack.
Jordana Borbor Cruz (“Itaty”), 13 August 23, 45 Playas, Guayas (Ecuador). Shot in her restaurant.
Bella, 4 August 23, La Troncal, Cañar (Ecuador). Victim of shooting incident.
Guendi/Wendy, 31 July 2023, Age 42, Babahoyo, Los Rios (Ecuador). Shot by a group of armed assailants who invaded her home.
Joselyn Lino, 1 July 2023, Santa Elena (Ecuador). Attacked by unidentified assailants riding motorcyles, was shot dead.
Valentína Moran (“Tina”), 19 June 2023, Age 19, Guayaquil, Guayas (Ecuador). Shot dead near her home by assailants on a motorcycle.
Lilia/Lila, 14 June 2023, Age 18, Quevedo, Los Rios (Ecuador). Shot multiple times at her home.
Luna Bravo, 11 June 2023, San Pablo de Manta, Manabi (Ecuador). Found dead in an abandoned factory.
Giyo Castillo, 31 May 2023, Age 28, Guayaquil, Guayas (Ecuador). Shot in the street by armed assailants.
Sheyla Cabezas Reyes, 13 May 2023, Age 35, Esmeraldas (Ecuador). Shot soon after being released from prison.
Jordana Cortez, 9 April 2023, Esmeraldas (Ecuador). Murdered.
Cecibel (“Ceci”), 7 April 2023, Age 31, Buena Fe, Los Rios (Ecuador). Stabbed in her apartment.
Brigitte, 2 April 2023, Guayaquil, Guayas (Ecuador). Stabbed by her ex-partner.
Mateo Briones Alvarado, 21 March 2023, Age 16, Daule, Guayas (Ecuador). Shot multiple times in what appears to have been an execution.
Keyly Daniela Macías Cortés, 16 March 2023, Age 25, Guayaquil, Guayas (Ecuador). Beaten and throat cut.
Paris Marchant Dioses, 3 March 2023, Age 35, Machala, El Oro (Ecuador). Shot by armed assailants.
Aithana Camila Azul Vargas Caicedo, 10 February 2023, Age 25, Babahoyo, Los Rios (Ecuador). Executed in the street by organised criminals.
Jossi Córdova Macas, 4 December 2022, Arenillas, El Oro (Ecuador). Shot as she slept by a group of hooded assailants who broke into her home.
Chepina Arteaga Morante, 10 November 22, Age 22, Chone, Manabí (Ecuador). Shot dead at her home.
Ryuchell, 12 July 2023, Age 27, Tokyo (Japan). A Japanese TV personality, cause of death not yet confirmed.
Name Unknown, 3 Jan 2023, Bundibugyo (Uganda). Died from traumatic brain injury-related complications shortly after being released from jail.
Name Unknown, 11 April 2023, Age 40, Libertad, San José (Uruguay). Died in custody.
Victoria Pereira, 25 Mar 2023, Age 22, Rivera (Uruguay). Stabbed and died in the street.
La Divina/La Johan, 24 April 2023, Age 38, Maracaibo, Zulia (Venezuela). Beaten and stabbed to death at the back of a street market.
O. E. B. Pineda, 23 November 2022, Age 24, Valencia, Carabobo (Venezuela). Shot in the street by an acquaintance.
Name Unknown, 10 April 2023, Age 15, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). Died by suicide.
Luciana Desiré Vaca, 26 October 2022, Age 34, La Paz (Bolivia). Trans model and human rights defender, died by suicide.
And we remember and include in this holy remembrance the rest of the 409 transgender individuals who died and were murdered between. We include in holy remembrance all those other transgender individuals whose names and stories that were never reported and listed but are known to you, eternal One. They who have experienced such horror in this world may now experience love and acceptance in your eternal embrace.
In their memory and for the sake of other transgender individuals here and everywhere,
inspire us and push us as individuals and as a church community to be in constant solidarity with the transgender community.
With this remembrance and realities, call us and strengthen us to continue to offer safe spaces for them and deliver messages of inclusion and hope for transgender and gender queer individuals.Push us and move us to share in their movement for social justice, legal protection & equal rights.
This is our prayer and may this prayer lead us to action in and through the name of all our fallen siblings and through Jesus Christ, the risen One. Amen.
Give them justice oh, Lord for their blood cries out to you! And eternal rest grant unto them oh God. May your perpetual light shine upon them, always! And may they rest in your everlasting love and peace.
Sya Nawa! Amen!
