Transgender lives remembered at annual event in downtown Toledo

TOLEDO, Ohio — Across the nation communities are observing Transgender Day of Remembrance. Transgender Toledo, in partnership with Equality Toledo, held a remembrance ceremony on Sunday for the 26 transgender persons who are believed to have died as a result of anti-transgender hate in the United States this year. 

“I really despise coming to this event because inevitably it’s to a lot of sadness and sorrow,” said Toledo City Council Member Nick Komives. “Any loss of life is terrible, but the fact that people would attack or kill people just because of who they are is really alarming.”

The remembrance took place at Handmade Toledo. The 26 victims were honored by saying their names and putting a red rose on an empty chair in their honor.

“There’s a whole certain reality that when we live in a society that makes it difficult for people to come out and to be authentic that there’s a potential for violence,” said Komives.

Since 1998 LGBTQ+ communities have come together to mourn the lives lost from anti-transgender violence. The tradition started after the murder of Rita Hester in  Massachusetts and turned into an annual day of remembrance.

One of the 26 victims named at the remembrance was Amiri Jean. 

Jean and Kejuan Richardson were murdered last week on Rosedale Avenue, just West of Monroe Street and Auburn Avenue.

Jean was a transgender woman.

Toledo Police told WTOL 11 last week it was too early in the investigation to deem the murders a hate crime but local activists are concerned the pair may have been targeted.