An upcoming vigil in Carbondale will commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Organizer Benito Goff says the event honors people who were murdered due to anti-trans violence, including victims whose names and stories are unknown.
"A large part of the issue is like, we know on average about 40 people in the United States alone are murdered because of anti-trans violence, but there are so many more we don't know about. Because they're not out or journalists or their family misgenders them and we never know that's why they died," he said.
According to The Human Rights Campaign, which has tracked anti-trans violence for eight years, 2021 has been the deadliest on record for transgender and gender-nonconforming people with 46 known deaths..
The vigil will include remarks and free candles will be available. Masks are required. It begins at 6 pm on Saturday in the Carbondale Town Square Pavilion.
