A Show of Remembrance for Victims of Anti-Transgender Violence

A display of 287 transgender pride flags was placed on the front lawn of First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (FPC) in support of the transgender community at a time when transgender rights are coming up for referendum in Massachusetts. The congregation voted unanimously on a measure to place the flags on Sunday, Oct. 21. Members placed the flags immediately following the vote.

The blue, pink and white striped flags represent the 286 people worldwide who were victims of anti-transgender murder in 2017, with the 287th flag representing those unknown incidents of anti-transgender murder in 2017. The flags will remain up through the mid-term election.

The congregation also agreed to put the flags back up for the Transgender day of Remembrance, on Nov. 20, and the church will host a vespers service at 7 p.m. that evening to remember and honor all those transgender individuals who have lost their lives to violence. The church bell will be tolled and names of transgender people whose lives were lost in violence will be read.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith in memory of transgender murder victim Rita Hester. It was begun as a candlelight vigil to honor Ms. Hester and all victims of anti-transgender murder since her 1998 death.

FPC's LGBTQ+ Task Force member Rebecca Stadolnik said the display was "an effort to show support and to raise awareness about challenges and violence faced by members of the transgender community. We hope that by putting the display up before November, we can make people interested in learning more about the challenges faced by transgender folks and to hopefully sway them to support upholding the anti-discrimination law that protects transgender citizens in MA." A yes vote on Ballot Question #3 would uphold the law protecting transgender people.

FPC has a long history of supporting members of the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual) community and is designated by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Welcoming Congregation. This special designation was earned in 1996. A Welcoming Congregation designation means that a church has made a specific effort to make itself someplace where LGBTQIA folks feel welcomed, included and at home. The church sign bears a rainbow symbol to help identify FPC as welcoming to all people regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Another task force member spoke of the "very positive impact on the lives of transgender folks" a welcoming church can have. "I know that has really has helped my son," she said. The member did not want her name shared because, while her son is welcome at FPC, he might not find himself as welcome elsewhere if he's known to be transgender.