Brighton remembers trans lives lost in 2018

It was standing room only at the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church on Sunday, November 18.

THE chapel, dressed with beautiful silk trans and non-binary flags provided the perfect backdrop for members of the trans and non-binary communities with their allies to honour the lives of those lost to anti trans hate crime in the last year.

Stephanie Jayne Scott and Sam Hall hosted the vigil and the Rainbow Chorus conducted by their musical director Aneesa Chaudhry provided the musical interludes culminating with a beautiful rendition of ‘This is me’.

Ruben from Transformers spoke about the need to continue to be hopeful and the power of activism in inspiring young people. Sam from Clare Project spoke about being born into a binary world and his insights into gender and privilege. Stephanie spoke about the very first TDoR that they helped to organise and their hope that in the years to come there would be less pain and suffering.

Revd Deborah Cornish, the new Minister at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church reminded everyone that each name was a person, with a family who mourned their loss and spoke about the honour she felt at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church being chosen to host this event.

Everyone attending was invited to help create a Wall of Names on the side of the chapel to those who had lost their lives in the last year worldwide. This has now been moved to the round flint chapel on the ground floor at Dorset Gardens, for quiet reflection and remembrance all this week.

Politicians from Labour and the Greens attended as did senior police officers from Sussex Police who attended out of uniform along with representatives from many LGBT+ groups and organisations.

The event was funded by the Sussex Police Property Fund. Event and names preparation was organised by Brighton & Hove City Council LGBT Workers Forum.

Lunch Positive provided tea and sandwiches at the social event following the end of the service.