The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony took place in Saratoga Springs, New York, gathering community members to honor the memory of transgender and non-binary individuals lost in 2025 due to homicide and suicide. The event, held on November 20, featured the reading of 64 names, a solemn recognition of lives cut short, and acts of solidarity from those who attended.
Candlelight Vigil and Community Support
During the ceremony at the Wyckoff Center on the Skidmore College campus, attendees participated in a candlelight vigil, creating a poignant atmosphere of reflection and remembrance. Rauch Passaro, a member of the transgender and non-binary community, expressed gratitude for the event, highlighting its significance in fostering community support.
“Especially in years where we’re affected by the loss in our own community, it really hits home,” Passaro said. “I hope those who attend leave with just a little more thoughtfulness, a little more patience and a desire to understand each other.”
The ceremony featured readings from Rabbi Illana Symons of Temple Sinai and Rev. Jo Urrriola-Shonewolf of Saratoga United Methodist Church. Musical performances, including “Whisper” and “Take Me Down to the Water’s Edge” by Trace Ellis, added a layer of emotional depth to the proceedings.
A Space for Healing and Education
The event was organized through a partnership between Saratoga Pride and Skidmore College, emphasizing the importance of community engagement. Mariel Martin, director of the Wyckoff Center, highlighted the center’s role in fostering cross-cultural communication and support for all community members.
“Creating a space to say you’re seen and you’re validated in all that you bring to our community, because you’re part of us too,” Martin stated.
Since its inception in 1999, the Transgender Day of Remembrance has served as both a memorial and an educational opportunity. Cindy Swadba, a volunteer with Saratoga Pride, noted that the organization has committed to hosting this ceremony annually following a challenge from a previous speaker.
“This is a memorial, and it’s also an educational opportunity. We’re talking about what it means to be transgender,” Swadba explained. “It’s a very solemn event, and we speak about the transgender and non-binary members of our community, and those who’ve lost their lives to violence or suicide.”
Attendees were encouraged to share their experiences and insights gained from the ceremony with others in their lives, fostering broader understanding and support for the transgender and non-binary community.
For more information about the Transgender Day of Remembrance, including the list of names read during the ceremony, please visit tdor.translivesmatter.info.
