Trans Pride Flag Waved at the Iowa State Capitol to Commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance

I totally forgot to acknowledge the Transgender Day of Remembrance earlier this week. Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) has been around for 20 years. It was started as a vigil on November 20, 1999, by a trans activist named Gwendolyn Ann Smith in order to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a trans woman who was tragically killed the year before. TDOR seeks to remember all of the transgender individuals whose lives have been lost to violence.

This year's Transgender Day of Remembrance was commemorated in Des Moines by members of Iowa Safe Schools. Iowa Safe School honored TDOR by waving a transgender pride flag at the Iowa State Capitol Building for 3-5 minutes and then received a certificate of authenticity from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services.

Today Iowa Safe Schools had a trans flag fly over the Iowa Capitol, the first time a trans flag has flown over any state capitol in the country. We honor those students we work for every single day and will always have your backs. #TransDayofRemembrance#IowaProud#TDORpic.twitter.com/dTEpI5y7pu

— Iowa Safe Schools (@iowasafeschools) November 20, 2019

Also on Wednesday, the Transgender Alliance of Iowa partnered with Des Moines University, Trinity Las Américas Unity Methodist Church, Downtown Disciples, and Transgender Action Group of Iowa to host their own TDOR event. They honored the lives of the transgender community with music and art.