Every year on November 20th, we pause to honour Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), a day dedicated to remembering the transgender, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse individuals whose lives were taken by violence, discrimination, and intolerance. TDOR is a moment to reflect on the lives lost, but also a call to action: to build a world where everyone is free to live safely, authentically, and with dignity.
The day began as a vigil for Rita Hester, a Black trans woman whose death in 1998 sparked a global movement of remembrance and advocacy. Today, communities gather worldwide to read names, share stories, light candles, and honour people who lived with courage, love, and humanity.
As we observe TDOR, we must acknowledge an ongoing truth: trans and gender-diverse people, face disproportionate violence, exclusion, and discrimination. This reality demands not only compassion, but commitment.
At the heart of this day is a message for all of us: being authentic to yourself is something we should all strive toward - a way of living with love, honesty, and courage each day. Authenticity should never have to be explained, justified, or defended. Yet for many transgender and gender-diverse individuals, simply living as themselves requires resilience in the face of challenges no one should have to endure.
At Cher-Mère, our values are rooted in belonging, dignity, and care. We honour these values every day:
- In the services we provide,
- In the conversations we hold
- In the students we support
- In the spaces we intentionally create
This is core to who we are: we offer services to anyone who shows up authentically for themselves. If you have a body, we are happy to pamper you with love, using naturally made products inspired by the Caribbean. Care is universal. Comfort is universal. Touch, connection, and healing are universal. Our doors and our hearts remain open.
Community care matters. It is reflected in the language we use, in the policies we create, in the ways we welcome others, and in our willingness to learn and grow. It shows up in the small moments of kindness and the big commitments to making spaces safer and more inclusive for all.
As we honour Transgender Day of Remembrance, may we hold space for grief, for love, for resilience, and for collective responsibility.
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Grief, for the lives taken too soon.
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Love, for the communities holding one another through loss and hope.
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Resilience, for every person who chooses to live authentically despite the world’s expectations.
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Responsibility, for the work we must continue to do—individually and together—to build a more compassionate, equitable, and affirming world.
May remembrance move us to action.
May authenticity inspire acceptance.
And may community continue to light the way forward.
Today, we remember.
Tomorrow, and every day, we continue the work.