Transgender Day Of Remembrance Ceremony Set In Somerville

The event will honor transgender and gender-diverse people whose lives have been lost.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Nov 10, 2026 9:52 AM EST

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city is preparing to remember those lost to anti-trans violence with an annual community ceremony.

Somerville's Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience is slated to take place from 5 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, in the second-floor Council on Aging community room at the Tufts Administration Building at 167 Holland St. The event will honor transgender and gender-diverse people whose lives have been lost while recognizing the strength and resilience of the transgender community.

Mayor Jake Wilson and representatives from the city's Health and Human Services Department will deliver brief remarks during the ceremony. Guests will also be invited to read the names and stories of those lost. The program will provide an opportunity for reflection, mourning, and a shared commitment to making Somerville a city where people can live safely and authentically.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed annually on Nov. 20. The observance began in 1999, when transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith organized a vigil honoring Rita Hester and other transgender people lost to violence. Hester lived in Allston and was killed in her apartment on Nov. 28, 1998.

The ceremony is free and open to all, and live American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. Residents who need additional accessibility accommodations or materials in alternative formats can contact ADA@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600, ext. 2059, in advance. Free language interpretation can be requested via email or by calling 311 at least seven days before the event.

Somerville's LGBTQ+ Services Coordinator provides information, referrals, and support to residents and works to address discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. More information about programming and resources is available on the city's LGBTQ Services webpage or by email.