Blog

In recognition of Transgender Awareness Week, SAGE and the National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging will be highlighting one resource a day until Friday, November 20th which is the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). TDOR honors the memory of those murdered because of anti-transgender prejudice and is observed in late November in recognition of the 1998 murder of Rita Hester. Rita was a highly visible member of the transgender community in Boston, where she worked locally on education around transgender issues. On Saturday, Nov 28, Rita was murdered in her apartment. TDOR was started as a vigil in her honor and has since become an international event for communities to come together and remember those who have been murdered because of hate.

Did you know that fifty percent (50%) or more of all transgender and gender non-conforming people have experienced some form of sexual abuse, sometimes from many different people over many years? In order to help heal and educate, FORGE recently came out with Transgender Sexual Violence Survivors: A Self-Help Guide to Healing and Understanding.  This substantial document includes information about the prevalence of sexual violence against transgender/gender non-conforming individuals, lists common long- and short-term responses to trauma and offers practical advice and resources for survivors and those helping them. Please click here to access the resource. FORGE‘s mission is to support, educate and advocate for the rights and lives of transgender individuals and SOFFAs (Significant Others, Friends, Family, and Allies) and they provide valuable training services as well as information on their site. Find them on Facebook and Twitter!