Trans Remembrance March 2023

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost to murder in acts of anti-transgender violence. Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by a small group, including Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Nancy Nangeroni, and Jahaira DeAlto, to memorialize the murder of Black transgender women Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts and Chanelle Pickett in Watertown, Massachusett. TDOR is now an internationally recognized event.

At the 2023 vigil we will seek to go beyond honoring those lost to murder, by commemorating all those we’ve lost to anti-trans hate and government (in)action, both here and abroad. We will also march to demand that government and decision makers take action to ensure an end to anti-2SLGBTQ+ hate.
Over the past couple of years, anti-trans hate has been on the rise in Canada. Violent attacks on queer and trans people, particularly on trans women of color, are being reported across Montreal and Quebec. Now more than ever, the queer and trans community needs to stand together with our allies to demand an end to anti-trans hate and violence.

Beginning point Monument Sir-Georges-Étienne-Cartier 18H00
End point Parc Lafontaine 20H00

18:00 Meet-up/ Food will be served
18:15 Commemorations and speeches
18:45 Silent march
19:30 Die-in, followed by a protest march
20:15 End at Parc Lafontaine

• NO ISLAMOPHOBIA. NO ANTISEMITISM. NO ZIONISM.
• With the wind, it’ll be –5°C. Dress up accordingly!
• Wear a mask if you can. Let’s make our spaces as accessible as possible!
• We’ll be serving warm food and drinks on the spot, at the beginning of the vigil.
• Bring your own water bottles if you can!
• The vigil will be 100% wheelchair-accessible, but we do ask that you bring your own wheelchair if possible (as we don’t have enough to give them out).
• ASL interpretation will be available. Please stay close to where speeches and commemorations will be, in order to see!

These are some general tips for safer marching. We hope you won’t have to use them, but just in case of escalation or something changing to make the situation unsafe:

• If you’ve encountered conflict or a situation that could potentially be unsafe, please let the volunteers know. Do not talk to the police.
• Don’t talk to media; direct them to march organizers. Please definitely let a marshal or deescalation person know if media is harassing anyone or asking inappropriate questions!
• Stay hydrated! We have water available for you to refill your bottle or grab a cup
• If eyes are exposed to pepper spray or tear gas, tilt head sideways and rinse each eye with water
• Turn off face ID and touch ID on your phone and set a passcode instead
• If you are detained or arrested, the only information you need to provide to police is your name, address, and date of birth. You have the right to speak with a Legal Aid lawyer, free of charge, by calling 1-800-842-2213, regardless of whether or not you qualify for legal aid.
• Leave the march in groups if you can, especially if you’re leaving before the end of the march.
• Anything else bothering you? Let one of the volunteers know and they will see how they may be able to help you.

In the event that you’re not feeling well during the event, reach out to medics and volunteer present.

Help is also available here:
Interligne: 1-888-505-1010
Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
ATQ: 1-855-909-9038