Local group plans Transgender Day of Remembrance event

EUGENE. Ore.- November 20 is International Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to honor transgender people who were murdered as a result of transphobia.

Eugene-based social justice group United FRONT is hosting their own Day of Remembrance event on November 20th, from 6 to 9 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Chambers Street and W 13th Avenue.

One of the organizers, JohnnyCoco Lam, says the event is both a vigil and a potluck- a way to both mourn and celebrate the lives of trans people lost to hate-based violence. The event will feature two speakers, a reading of the names of trans people who were murdered this past year, a vigil and a potluck.

Lam says the event will especially concentrate on trans women of color.

"We hope that people will leave this event with a deeper understand of the violence that trans people face day to day, particularly trans women of color," Lam said.

This is the first year United Front is hosting this event. The event will have both ASL and Spanish language interpreters, and the space is wheelchair accessible.