News

Osborne's 2022 Transgender Day of Remembrance

On Friday, November 4, Osborne gathered with our friends, colleagues, and partners to observe our fifth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event.

Osborne Association

November 7, 2022

Speakers standing next to each other looking at the screen. — From left: Archana Jayaram, Osborne President and CEO; Victoria Bell, Justice Advocate; Christine Perez, Translatinx Network Senior Educator for Health and Programming; Reverend Yunus Coldman; Kim Watson-Benjamin, Office of the Public Advocate LGBTQ and Health Coordinator; Jaisen Garcia- Castillo, Exponents Advocate and Community Engagement Educator; Yonce Jones, Exponents Service Provider; Grace Detrevarah, Osborne LGBT Liaison & Senior Reentry Peer & Health Facilitator.

On Friday, November 4, Osborne gathered with our friends, colleagues, and partners to observe our fifth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event. Hosted by Osborne’s LGBT Liaison & Senior Reentry Peer & Health Facilitator, Grace Detrevarah, this year’s event celebrated the contributions of the transgender community and commemorated the lives of the 32 people lost to anti-transgender violence in the United States this year.

Osborne’s President and CEO Archana Jayaram opened the event by observing that “the antidote to violence is hope - and many organizations like ours are dedicated to upholding the dignity of all people... we celebrate and amplify the lives, experiences, and joy of our trans family today.”

Founder of Black Trans Liberation and Costume Designer, Qween Jean.

Speaker Qween Jean, Founder of Black Trans Liberation and Costume Designer, honored the work of current and former advocates and champions against transphobia, including keynote speaker Victoria Bell, whose work has helped educate providers about the needs of transgender patients and address inequities through legislative solutions, and Grace Detrevarah. Qween Jean told the audience that “...we remain resilient in the face of adversity and the face of trauma because we know it does not define us.”

From left: Kim Watson-Benjamin and Grace Detrevarah share a hug.

After holding a moment of silence for the lives lost to violence, Reverend Yunus Coldman, Associate Pastor at Rivers of Living Water UCC, called for an end to the violence. He reflected on his relationship with those he’s lost, asking what it would be like to hold a “revival instead of remembrance of those we have lost.”

Reverend YUNUS COLDMAN standing with his eyes closed in a moment of silence. He wears black glasses and an orange shirt. — Reverend Yunus Coldman.

Kenny Agosto, Bronx Borough President’s Office Community Service Unit Associate and LGBTQ Task Member ended the event by offering attendees the opportunity to join the Bronx Borough President LGBTQ task force and expressed his wish that “we’ll never have to see another death again.”

Bronx Borough President's Office Community Service Unit Associate and LGBTQ Task Member, Kenny Agosto.

If you were unable to join our Transgender Day of Remembrance please watch it here: