Defending Dignity: Marking Transgender Day of Remembrance

On 20 November, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) stands in solidarity with trans and gender-diverse communities to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) – a day to honour the lives lost to anti-trans violence and to reaffirm our shared commitment to justice and safety for all.

First observed in 1999, TDoR was founded to memorialise those murdered because of transphobia. Around the world, trans and gender-diverse people continue to face disproportionate levels of violence and discrimination. Research from the Williams Institute shows that transgender people are more than four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent crime. In at least 13 countries, laws criminalise gender expression, and in five, being transgender can carry the death penalty. These realities remind us that violence against trans people is not isolated – it is shaped by intersecting forces of race, gender, class and power.

At the ASRC, we see these global injustices reflected in the stories of people seeking asylum because of their gender identity. Our Gender Clinic provides specialised legal and immigration support to those who have fled persecution, offering safety, validation, and the chance to rebuild their lives.

Recently, the Gender Clinic assisted Jennifer, a trans woman from Türkiye who fled years of violence and rejection. Misled by a fraudulent migration agent, her first protection visa application did not tell her true story. With the Clinic’s help, Jennifer was able to safely disclose her gender identity, share her experiences, and advocate for herself. Her appeal was successful – she was recognised as a refugee and can now live freely and safely in Australia.

As Jana Favero, ASRC Deputy CEO, notes, growing hostility toward LGBTQIA+ people is driving displacement in unexpected places – including an increase in asylum inquiries from the United States. Persecution and fear can emerge anywhere hate is left unchallenged.

This Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honour those we have lost – and stand with all trans and gender-diverse people in the fight for safety, dignity, and the right to live freely and authentically.

Attend a Vigil:
Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil 2025
Thursday 20 November, 5:30–8:00pm AEDT
Collingwood Town Hall, Naarm/Melbourne