Outfront Kalamazoo Honors Lives Lost on Transgender Day of Remembrance

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A Colorado shooting that killed five people and injured 25 others happened on Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance to memorialize people killed in anti-transgender violence.

The deadly Colorado nightclub shooting casts even more darkness for Kalamazoo's transgender and non-binary community.

On Sunday, members of the Kalamazoo LGBTQ community said enough is enough.

"Not again, and when is it going to stop. Not again," Tracey Hall, Kalamazoo County commissioner and Outfront Kalamazoo director, said.

Dozens of community members and allies gathered Sunday in Oshtemo, honoring lives and memory of trans people lost to senseless violence, including the five lives lost in Colorado, some 1,200 miles away.

"When another trans person is murdered, we're reminded that the work still needs to be done," Hall said.

Syd West, a transgender male, said he's mourned too many times.

"I've had many friends pass away to trans violence and suicide," West said.

2021 was the deadliest year nationwide for transgender and non-binary people who were violently killed, according to a human rights campaign report. A majority of victims are persons of color.

"I believe anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from elected officials, political candidates all over the country and here in our own state has contributed to this," Hall said.

Anti-LGBTQ legislation is sweeping through state legislatures across the country.

Michigan Republicans have sponsored bills to ban trans-children from playing on sports teams.

Elected leaders and allies need to step up, Hall said.

"This is a big burden and emotional toll on the community," Hall said. "And, we need our allies to help shut it down."

The human rights campaign says 32 gender of non-gender conforming people have been killed in the United States this year, but the group says that could be an undercount.

Original article: https://wwmt.com/news/local/outfront-kalamazoo-transgender-day-of-remembrance-oshtemo-west-michigan-colorado-nightclub-shooting-five-25-tracey-hall-syd-west