Hopes and prayers not enough

I woke up Sunday, Nov. 20 — Transgender Day of Remembrance — prepared to honor the lives of the 48 people of transgender experience who have been violently killed over the past year. What I was not prepared for was the news that five people had been murdered and another 18 injured in a mass shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

According to the FBI, 20% of all hate crimes in 2020 were perpetrated against the LGBTQ community with violence against transgender people increasing 20% year-over-year. Violence includes more than shootings. It also includes hate speech on Facebook, anti-LGBTQ legislation, bullying of queer youth, and discrimination in housing, employment and health care. The question is what are we — what are you — going to do about it? You could attend a school board meeting and speak out in support of policies that affirm transgender youth; write your state legislator imploring them to vote against anti-LGBTQ legislation; stop someone from telling a hateful joke; or contribute to an organization that supports LGBTQ people who need assistance with food, housing or other needs. The question is what are you going to do beyond issuing statements of “hopes and prayers.” Corinne Goodwin Orefield