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by: Rev. Derek Terry, Program Director- Open and Affirming Coalition

On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the at least 30 transgender and gender-expansive individuals whose lives were stolen by violence this year. We remember their names, their dreams, and the love they carried. Yet, in the face of mounting threats and fear following the recent election, remembrance alone is not enough. We must actively affirm and protect trans lives.

The origins of this day in 1999, when Gwendolyn Ann Smith held a vigil for Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman, remind us of the long history of struggle against hate. Today, that struggle feels even more urgent. Trans and non-binary Americans face renewed attacks on their rights, their safety, and even their basic dignity. The Trevor Project has reported a staggering 700% increase in crisis calls since the election, with trans youth and adults alike expressing fears for their futures.

As people of faith, we must have the courage to stand with and advocate for our trans siblings. The difference between welcoming and affirming is vast: welcoming merely offers a seat, while affirming embraces, protects, and celebrates. In this current social and political climate, affirming spaces are life-saving and life-giving. Open and Affirming churches must be brave and safe communities, actively fighting for the right of trans and non-binary individuals to live freely and joyfully without fear of erasure.

The threats are real. Trans people across the country are scrambling to secure basic protections, from rushing legal name changes to bracing for potential rollbacks in healthcare and marriage equality. The fear is palpable, yet so is the resilience. Trans and gender-expansive individuals are finding ways to prepare and fight back, holding on to hope even as they brace for what may come.

Our call as Christians is clear: to love courageously and stand boldly against injustice. We must be voices of affirmation, lifting up trans lives in the fullness of their beauty and humanity. As poet, activist, and performer Alok Vaid-Menon reminds us, “You shouldn’t need to understand us to believe we are worthy of dignity and safety.” Let us be communities that affirm without hesitation, that act with compassion, and that work tirelessly for a world where trans people are not just remembered but celebrated and defended.

Rev. Derek Terry is an artist, writer, and Program Director for the Open and Affirming Coalition, as well as the pastor of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he passionately advocates for social justice, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and creative expression. Connect with him online at DerekTerry.com