November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a day to remember, mourn and honor the lives of transgender people who have died throughout the year due to anti-transgender violence. It is a day to affirm the dignity of trans lives and experiences that American society continues to marginalize, render invisible, and harm, as well as “to demand an end to violence against transgender people, particularly trans women of color,” as Tekla Taylor says in “The Remembrance Report» at the Trans Remembrance Project.
Below are several prayers for Transgender Day of Remembrance as well as some additional resources that may be helpful for worship and training in Christian communities. As always, when using or sharing, please credit the original sources.
A collection to remember and affirm people of diverse genders
“God of all kinds and none,
Source of our glorious difference and our true harmony,
Bearer of all pain and Spirit of transformation,
we thank you for creating us in your image,
in the multiple and splendid forms of our human diversity.
Hear us as we remember and affirm gender diverse people.
Transforming the violence, pain and struggles of the past and present,
bring new life to death, despair and despair,
and give us your grace, your strength and your joy.
May we be like kingfishers that catch fire,
dragonflies drawing a flame,
beautiful butterflies that shine with your love.
In the name of Christ incarnate in a thousand places, and more. Amen.”
From “A Liturgy for Transgender Day of Remembrance» by Joséphine Inkpin, Development of the trans spirit (November 2021)
For our trans and non-binary brothers and sisters who came before us
“God of liberation, let us lift up, we pray, all our trans and non-binary brothers and sisters who have gone before us, the people on whose shoulders we stand. Be with us this day as we mourn those, your beloved ones, lost to violence this year. Unite us together in beloved community and strengthen us for the continued work of eradicating the intersecting evils of transphobia, transmisogyny, racism, sexism and classism May the light perpetually shine on those we have lost, may their names be a blessing, and may we be inspired and motivated to join in the co-creation of a world in which the dignity of all our humanity and all creation is safeguarded and honored.
From “Prayer for Trans Day of Remembrance, 2021», TransEpiscopal (November 20, 2021)
Lamentation with the Psalms
“Reader 1:
How long, O God?
How long will transgender people suffer shame and loss because of who they are?
How long must we bear the pain in our soul and have sorrow in our heart all day long?
How long will we have enemies who persecute us, ridicule us, and rejoice over us?
(adapted from Psalm 10)
“Reader 2:
Consider me and answer me, Lord my God!
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say: “I have conquered.”
(excerpt from Ps 13)
“Reader 3:
Why do you stay away, hiding in difficult times?
In fear, the violent attack the vulnerable—
Let them get caught up in the projects their hearts have imagined.
In confusion and turmoil, the oppressors say:
‘There is no God who cares for the meek—
No, God will not discover me.
Their mouths are filled with curses, deception and oppression.
They are in ambush
In secret, they murder innocent people.
The powerless fall under their power.
They think:
‘God forgot [the drag queens and cross-dressers, transgender men, transgender women, transgender children and youth, gender-queer people and intersex individuals]*—
God has hidden the face of God.
“Rise, Lord; O God, raise your hand
Don’t forget the oppressed.
(excerpt from Ps 10) »
“*In this line, place the names and identities that best affirm the community.”
From “Prayer for Transgender Day of Remembrance» by Malcolm Himschoot
To the God of love, peace and wonder
“Loving God, you cry with us in our grief and fear. Surround in your loving embrace all those in our trans community who have passed away this year. You know their names, Divine Creator, even when they are misnamed or misgendered as a final act of violence and erasure. You see everyone as beloved and you call them by the name they have chosen. You claim them as your children.
“God of peace, comfort those who mourn. Give courage to our trans communities in the face of cruelty and harassment. Bring those who commit this violence to justice.
“Challenge us, O Saint, to speak for those who are silenced, to stand with those who are bullied, and to reach out to those who face danger.
“Wonderful God, you are beyond gender. You created each of us in your image. Be with us today and always as we long for a day when every individual is safe, known and honored.
“We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who brings us all together into one human family. Amen.”
By Leo Bancroft, “A Prayer for Transgender Day of Remembrance», Reconciling the works (November 15, 2016)
Additional Resources
- “Prayers for Trans Visibility Day from Trans-Episcopal and Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission» – A compilation of collections, prayers of the people, and multiple forms for use on International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31), which may also be appropriate for liturgies on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
- “The Remembrance Report”, Trans Remembrance Project – A report that includes information on the history of Transgender Day of Remembrance as well as data on trans lives lost over the past year.
- “Transform: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians» by Austen Hartke (Westminster John Knox, updated and expanded 2023) – A book that explores Scripture with the stories and experiences of transgender people at the center; the updated edition includes a group discussion guide as well as a sermon series guide.
The image shown is of Alexander Gray has Unsplash
