Local transgender advocacy group hosts vigil in honor of 25th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance [Video]

APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) – On the 25th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, an Appleton-based advocacy group called Hate Free Outagamie held a vigil and rally in Houdini Plaza, honoring lives lost to suicide and anti-trans violence.

The vigil took place at Houdini Plaza in Appleton and featured speeches from community members and activists, education for attendees on getting involved with local activism, and a focus on hope and direct action in advocating for change in light of the presidential election.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999 in honor of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed a year earlier. It serves to recognize transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming individuals who were killed in the past year, as well as those who committed suicide.

Members of Hate Free Outagamie say they have begun the legal process of recognizing the county as a Transgender and Nonbinary Sanctuary County. They’ve started a petition to present to the county board, which you can find here.

“Our power …