GLAM Honors Fallen Members of Transgender Community

White and purple carnations were placed on rows of chairs on the bridge of JJC as members of the Gay, Lesbian and More club (GLAM) and the JJC Safe Zone Project prepared for the fourth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance held on Nov. 18.

A catering table of food and refreshments were provided as members of GLAM and Melvin Whitehead, GLAM advisor, welcomed individuals participating in the event.

The event started with a slideshow that displayed pictures and names of transgender individuals who lost their lives as a result of transphobia or anti-transgender prejudice.

Opening remarks, given by Whitehead, supplied a rundown on scheduled events while providing insight on the significance of Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Whitehead remarked on how many of the transgender victims involved in hate crimes were either never fully investigated by law enforcement or under-reported by the media, even with much of the transgender community slowly integrating to society.

The rest of the event was spent ceremonially moving the carnations from the chairs and placing them into one of two vases at the front of the presentation.

Participants then read from tags that were wrapped around each flower. The tags provided the names of transgender victims from around the world.

Small stones were also placed in the vases as a way to represent victims that were neither named nor reported in instances of crime against transgender individuals.

Afterwards, a moment of silence was held in respect for the 21 victims represented. This was followed with guest speaker Alexis Martinez whom spoke on the impact of violence against the transgender community.

Martinez is a representative of trans-women of color on various panels and workshops throughout the United States. She also has a long history of grassroots union organizing.

Martinez said that the time of remembrance for transgender people was a very personal challenge for her. She then provided a further list of transgender people who had committed suicide due to victimization.

Martinez closed her speech on an expression of hope for the next generation to defeat the challenges and injustices that transgender people face.

After Martinez’s speech, an open mic was provided to participants who wished to contribute words, poetry, or music in respect of the transgender community.

Ian Girard, a GLAM club member, provided a few powerful words during the open mic session.

“We are the generation that cares to not invalidate children,” Girard said. “the gender conformity will be torn down hopefully by this generation.”

Whitehead issued his closing statement with a word of thanks to all GLAM members involved with the preparations of the event and Amy Sims, coordinator of student activities, for providing big support on the Safe Zone Project over the past few years.

Several local organizations who support the LGBTQ community were also credited on the back of the program pamphlets issued at the event.

Community Alliance and Action Network (CAAN), Youth Outlook, and Gender Explorers Joliet were listed along with their contact information in support of the cause.