'They lived with light': Transgender Arizonans who died in 2023 honored at Phoenix event

In 2023, 393 transgender people died due to transphobia this year, including three individuals from Arizona. Trans Spectrum of Arizona hosted an event at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Phoenix on Monday, which was Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Catherine Lizzarago, board member and self-proclaimed “mom of TSAZ,” noted that the event was meant to both mourn and celebrate the lives lost in the LGBTQ community.

The event's first half focused on mourning, as community members gave speeches in front of posters with pictures of the 393 men and women from all over the world. Candles were lit to symbolize the light these individuals brought into the world.

Kate Thomas, a sexuality and HIV educator, said she was initially apprehensive to speak at this event as a cisgender woman. However, Thomas later realized that line of thinking could lead to inaction.

“Today is not just an opportunity for us to mourn those we lost to anti-transgender violence, but a reminder that we must continue to fight like hell for the living,” said Thomas.

She mentioned the anti-trans bills being passed to ban gender-affirming care and criminalize parents for seeking treatment for their transgender children. Thomas called for cisgender allies to stand up to bigotry.

“The trans community cannot and should not fight for their rights alone. No one should have to live in fear. Every child should have the right to play sports with their friends,” she said.

DJ Porter, an ASU alum who was involved in queer rights advocacy as a student, said events like these are important for building community among LGBTQ people in Arizona.

“We’re here for remembrance, we’re here for community. The people that are sitting to the left and right of you, remember that we all need each other,” said Porter.

Porter then asked for a moment of silence. The entire room fell silent, honoring all the lives lost in the transgender community this year. After this, Porter took the time to explicitly name all three victims from the state of Arizona: Caelee Love-Light, Bre’Asia Bankz and Vanessa Barrett.

“We do remember that they lived with light,” Porter said.

Jennifer A. Reddall, the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Arizona, acknowledged the complicated relationship between Christianity and the LGBTQ community.

“When I step into a space like this, I’m very conscious of the fact that many of the faces of the people on these cards died because of a version of Christianity. Because of Christians who said they thought they understood Christianity as a way of hating trans people or not accepting trans people,” Reddall said.

Reddall urged her fellow Christians to better support the LGBTQ community, even offering to educate those who feel like they don’t understand the community. She also took the time to express her disapproval of a common Christian cliche.

“Sometimes Christians say when someone has died, tragically or violently, they're in a better place now. And I have never wanted to hear that, because they might be in a better place, but they're not where they belong. And where they belong is here with us,” said Reddall.

Reverend Troy Mendez, the first openly gay leader at Trinity Cathedral, lit a candle that was about 6 feet tall. He explained the church buys a new paschal candle each year, and it is lit for the first time the night before Easter Sunday.

“We do that to remind ourselves that our God is one that always wants light projected out. And that light will always overcome darkness, wherever it may be, and that the light will be a blessing to all who encounter it,” said Mendez.

Mendez urged the community to have hope for the future.

“We can imagine a better world tomorrow, a better world tomorrow with our help, and with God’s help will become a reality,” said Mendez.

After the speakers, attendees grabbed small candles and marched to ASU’s downtown Phoenix campus. Some members also carried the blue-and-pink transgender flag. When they reached campus, the candles were put out to comply with ASU’s open flame rules.

The event turned joyous, focused on celebrating the lives of lost community members. Interactive art pieces were posted outside of ASU’s law school, including a “butterfly mural” in which attendees could write uplifting messages on butterfly sticky notes and add them to a wall. Chase Cramer, who goes by the stage name Dick Skinny, performed an interpretive dance drag show that symbolized his experience coming out and transitioning as a transgender man.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Transgender Day of Remembrance event in Phoenix honors those who died in 2023