Commemorating Trans Day of Remembrance across the Midlands

Trans Day of Remembrance is held annually in November at the end of Trans Awareness Week, and across the Midlands community groups are uniting and events are being held to commemorate trans lives.

Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) offers space to memorialise the lives of transgender people who have been murdered or have lost their lives as a result of transphobia, and to raise awareness of the violence and discrimination faced by trans people, calling on allies to stand in solidarity with the trans community. They can also be spaces for trans people to unite and connect with one another.

In 2025, TDoR will be held globally on Thursday 20^th November. As previously reported, in Leicestershire, a memorial walk will be held in Victoria Park from 6pm.

On the same day, Warwickshire Pride are hosting a Trans Day of Remembrance vigil outside Leamington Spa Town Hall from 6pm, with speeches, lighting of candles, a moment of silence, and the reading of the names of trans people who have lost their lives to hate over the last 12 months. There will also be an opportunity to speak for people who may wish to say a few words.

Coventry Trans Pride will hold their remembrance vigil at Coventry Cathedral’s Chapter House from 7pm (doors open 6.30pm). In Tamworth, an event by Rainbow Connections and Tamworth Inclusive Church will be held from 6pm at The Helping Hands Café, Offa House, Orchard Street.

In Wolverhampton, The Haus of Queers (previously Queer Wolverhampton) are holding a vigil and celebration of life from 6pm-9pm. “This Trans Day of Remembrance, join us for a dichotomous evening of united joy and grief,” say the organisers.

 The event will be hosted at 10 Kings Street, Wolverhampton (WV1 1ST) where there will be spaces for quiet and thoughtful reflection for those the community has lost, as well as social spaces for celebrating and connecting the trans community, with light refreshments. More information, including accessibility of the venue can be found on Haus of Queers’ Instagram.

In Birmingham, the Trans Tearoom with Trans Pride Birmingham will be holding an event at Carrs Lane on the 20th November, from 6pm. The event will predominately be indoors using the tearoom space, with a short time outside (weather permitting) to light candles and hold a minute’s silence.

Derbyshire Pride have organised two events across the county. The first vigil will be held in the daytime, on the afternoon before TDoR, from 1pm-2pm on Wedneday 19^th November at Derby LGBT+ Community Centre. The second vigil will be held on Thursday 20th November from 7.30pm-9pm at Chesterfield LGBT+ Community Centre.

Announcing the vigils, the organisers said: “On Trans Day of Remembrance, we come together to honour and remember the lives of trans people lost to violence and discrimination. It’s a time for reflection and solidarity and we welcome people to join us in remembering our lost siblings.”

Trans Day of Remembrance gatherings in Worcester and Lincoln will be held over the weekend. Lincolnshire Trans Pride are holding a meet-up, offering an afternoon of community sharing and discussion on Saturday 22^nd November from 11am-3pm. The event can be found at Craftea Cafe, 22 Melville St, Lincoln (LN5 7HW).

Organised by Trans Worcester with support from Sugar Daddy's Cafe and Out Together, another event will be held on Sunday 23^rd November at Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society (WR1 1NS) from 6-8pm. For anyone who would like to speak, share, read poetry or contribute to proceedings, you can get in touch with TransWorcester on social media or email transworcs@gmail.com