13 Transgender Americans Murdered in 2012

Looking at the lives of transgender and gender-nonconforming people killed (so far) this year to mark the International Transgender Day of Remembrance.

BY Diane Anderson-Minshall

November 20 2012 6:06 AM ET

Every November 20, activists around the globe pause to honor the transgender lives lost to violence, hate, and prejudice. Transgender Day of Rememberance was established in 1999 to memorialize Rita Hester, a trans woman brutally murdered November 28, 1998. Hester's murder remains unsolved, as do many of the crimes committed against transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

According to TDOR's official website, at least one trans person has been killed every month for the past decade. Trans women of color are most often targeted by this violence.

This year TDOR honors 265 trans people murdered because of hate. Thirteen of those deaths took place in the United States. Read on to find out more about each of the lives lost and find a comprehensive, worldwide list of TDOR vigil events here.