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GLOW OUT!

GLOW OUT hosts four vigils Nov. 20 for international Transgender Day of Remembrance

By Press Release

Press Release: 

Each year, on Nov. 20, people worldwide take time to remember those lost to anti-transgender violence. This year, GLOW OUT will host four ceremonies in all GLOW counties simultaneously. 

In a broad sense, the phrase “transgender” means anyone whose gender identity or expression is outside of the norms that society ascribes to the gender someone was assigned at birth. Some might take medication or have surgery to align their body with their gender, while others might not. 

In the US, transgender people are more likely to be bullied, become homeless, go to jail, or experience violence than their cisgender (non-trans) peers. For these reasons and others, transgender people are also more likely to consider or attempt suicide.

Genesee County’s remembrance ceremony will take place at Old Batavia Courthouse on Main & Ellicott streets; the Zion Episcopal Church in Avon will host Livingston County’s vigil; the ceremony in Orleans County will be at the Rotary Park on Main Street in Medina; and the event in Wyoming County will be held on the street corner of Main & Borden in Perry. All of the vigils will begin at 7 p.m.

First officially observed in 1999, the International Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day of mourning initiated by a group of US transwomen. It began with a memorial service for Rita Hester, a Black transwoman who was killed in her Boston apartment, a murder that remains unsolved. 

Annually, the remembrance ceremony is held in a somber acknowledgment of the friends and loved ones taken too soon because of anti-transgender violence. 

Anti-transgender violence happens nationwide, resulting in a troubling number of murdered trans people every year. As transphobia intersects with sexism and racism, a large proportion of victims (every single year) are trans women of color - specifically, Black and Latina. 

Overall, the number of those killed in the US has declined since 2021 (59, with 41 in 2022). As of this writing, at least 25 transgender Americans have been killed in 2023. Because the Remembrance period begins in November, those killed in the Club Q anti-transgender mass shooting in Colorado in November 2022 will be included in the list read at the vigils. This list is likely incomplete, because of the misreporting and underreporting of these crimes. Some have been disrespected in death by using their “dead name”, the name they were assigned at birth.

Since 2009, November 13-19 has been recognized as Trans Awareness Week. This observation creates the opportunity to uplift joys and successes for our trans loved ones as well. This week allows us to remind our transgender community that their lives are more than tragedy. 

After all, we cannot wait for someone to die to give them their flowers. We owe it to their memory and to our future to recognize the importance of supporting and celebrating our transgender loved ones, community members, and friends – remembering them in death, yes, and loving them while they are alive.

GLOW OUT! organizers are hosting a celebration open house this Sunday

By Press Release
GLOW OUT! pic
GLOW OUT! organizers invite the public to a Coming Out celebration and Open House from 12 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Batavia First Presbyterian Church. 
Submitted Photo

Press Release:

GLOW OUT!, the LGBTQ+ outreach agency serving the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (GLOW) region of Western New York, is thrilled to invite the community to a special event this weekend. 

GLOW OUT! organizers encourage everyone to join them at the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia at 300 E. Main St. in Batavia from 12 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 22 to celebrate Coming Out Day. 

This Open House and Celebration will showcase the variety of programs the organization offers, including the youth LGBTQ+ Drop-In Center which meets weekly on Thursdays from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. at the church. 

LGBTQ+ youth, ages 12-18, and their ally friends are encouraged to tour the space and meet fellow youth members during the Open House.

GLOW OUT! is taking the celebration of Coming Out Day to a new level by introducing the Living Library experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to “check out” a human book, each of whom will share their unique Coming Out journey in small group settings. 

This initiative aims to encourage dialogue, foster a deeper understanding of the LGBTQ+ experience, and empower attendees to better support individuals in their lives who may be going through the Coming Out process. 

In addition to the Living Library experience, GLOW OUT! is using this event to mark the beginning of a year dedicated to storytelling as a powerful educator. 

In 2023, the organization received Anti-Stigma funding from the NYS Legislature and the Office of Mental Health, allowing them to establish a youth LGBTQ+ theatre troupe, starting in the spring of 2024. This troupe’s mission is twofold: suicide prevention and education on the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth. 

For more details on this exciting endeavor and the impact on the GLOW region, please contact director Sara Vacin at svacin@glowout.org .

Sunday’s celebration will also feature a craft, basket, and bake sale, with all proceeds contributing to our vital LGBTQ+ support programs and services. Items for sale will include candles, painted potted plants, bookmarks, and youth designed T-shirts – all illustrating their unique perspectives and immense talent. 

The group will also have chili available (vegan and meat options) and encourages participants to warm up with a hearty bowl while listening to impactful stories, perusing the youth-made artistry, and helping to build a more inclusive, caring community.

Learn more about the organization, show support for LGBTQ+ youth, and help build up the vibrant community that embraces them. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.glowout.org or email your questions to info@glowout.org.

The day is to include a craft sale, basket raffle, 50/50 and a living library, with an enlightening and opportunity to delve into the diverse coming out stories of LGBTQ+ leaders for participants of all ages

The open house will feature a designated youth space where PFLAG and SAGE meetings will be taking place. Meet board members, Act Out leaders and learn about exciting opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies happening in the GLOW region, organizers said.

This event is free and open to the public.

Act Out leaders
Act Out leaders having having some fun.
Submitted Photo

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