Things have finally slowed down enough for me to post this.

Last month I participated in two Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) observances in Eugene, OR. As a (pagan) member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Eugene, I assisted with some of the organization for this observance, including the altar space in the chapel, and served as a “worship associate” during that day’s service. I also helped to read the names of U.S. victims of transphobic violence. Here is a video of part of that service. The sermon by Tina DeVoe is informative, strong, and compassionate.

We also seated fifteen photographs among the congregation, to make the point that trans and gender diverse people are not “elsewhere.”

I also ended up writing 27 haiku and many bios for some of the 70 names that would be read during Transponder’s observance later that day. I was also among the readers of names and bios were recorded a few days earlier.

I did not go to the actual Transponder observance and vigil as I was exhausted and there is a limit of how much I can be among other people (due to prospects of fragrance exposure). (I am a person with environmental illness and multiple-chemical sensitivities.)

☽☆☾