Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), also known as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, is observed annually on November 20 as a day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia and to draw attention to the continued violence endured by the transgender community. However, for many of us it means so much more and in different ways. Transgender Day of Remembrance, that’s what’s important this week.

You may be thinking to yourself this is usually the slot for Sexy This Week and what relevance it has. Well as a woman with my unique, medical history, it has a lot of relevance, so let me explain.

I’ve been through a lot of tough, rough, not so nice things in my life and yet, I’m still here to tell my tales. However there are those that the same cannot be said of. Innocent people who lost their lives just for being themselves, unique, brave, and beautiful people wanting to live healthy happy lives just like anyone else. I’m one of those people, and so are many others I know, that’s what the relevance is, and it doesn’t need anymore more explaining beyond that.

As human beings we seem to be always fighting for our freedoms and human rights, and the trans community is no exception. Being targeted for being different or misunderstood is no fun, trust me I know that only to well. However it most certainly hasn’t weakened my resolve to continue standing up for myself and the rights of others by using my voice to speak up for myself, and for those who can’t.

Within all of this imposed negativity I still try to find the beauty of life and humanity and make that tasty lemonade from the lemons life has thrown at me. What’s sweet about my lemonade is I’m able to remember the trail blazers that came before me and think about and appreciate the paths those brave stalwarts paved. Paths now trodden by the many that have come after them, and will continue to be traversed for a longtime to come.

For me, without the positive thoughts, it’s easy to get bogged down in the negative that life has to throw at you. To be trapped, or fearful to move on with your life as a happy healthy human being, and for me, that’s not an option, I can’t, and won’t let it.

Life is to be lived, loved and enjoyed, and I want, and need to remember those who lived it the same, those who were taken to soon from this plane of existence.

As it’s true what they say about “loving your fellow man”, embrace diversity, love what is different, life is already to short.

#TDOR

OOXX