By Frankie Witzenburg
On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, RHP remembers our fallen trans and gender expansive siblings whose lives were stolen by transphobia, racism, and hatred.
D.C. has long grappled with the epidemic of violence against transgender people, especially transgender women of color. This flier, sourced from the DC Trans Coalition (DCTC) Collection, serves as a powerful testament to the challenges faced by the District’s trans community. It also highlights their unwavering resilience and their determination to fight for justice, safety, and liberation.
The early 2000s saw a spate of anti-trans violence in Washington, D.C. In 2005, the DC Transgender Coalition formed to fight “for human rights, dignity, and liberation for transgender, transsexual, and gender-diverse (hereafter: trans) people in the District of Columbia.”. At the time of their formation, DC’s transgender community enjoyed few legal protections, and the entities charged with keeping DC residents safe were themselves perpetuating anti-trans sentiment and violence.
Beyond highlighting the senseless murders of trans individuals in D.C., DCTC has been instrumental in securing crucial protections for the local trans community. They successfully advocated for the inclusion of trans people in the D.C. Human Rights Act and pushed for a shelter policy that respects the gender identity of unhoused individuals. In 2007, DCTC pressured the D.C. Police Department to adopt guidelines for interactions with transgender individuals, and in 2009, they influenced the D.C. Department of Corrections to improve its gender classification and housing policies for incarcerated trans people.
In the face of systematic apathy, local grassroots organizations like DCTC, Transgender Health Empowerment (THE), and the DC Area Transmasculine Society (DCATS) played a vital role in supporting the transgender community in DC. These organizations provided essential services, including healthcare and mental health support, while also advocating for policy changes to protect trans lives. Their tireless efforts in building community and challenging oppressive systems have been instrumental in creating a more equitable and inclusive city.
Frankie Witzenburg is the Director of Archiving for RHP.