Texas Tech Office of LGBTQIA hosts Vigil and Celebration of Life

Texas Tech memorializing the deaths of transgender people the past year, specifically, those killed in anti-LGBT violence.

The Trans Remembrance Vigil and Celebration of Life precedes the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, Nov. 20.  It intends to remember, reflect and honor victims of hate crimes.

"I would just stress the importance of visibility for the trans community, and knowing publicly the struggles they face day-to-day and not being ignorant to the violence that occurs as often as it does," Aiden Beckert, with the Texas Tech Gender and Sexuality Association, said. 

There were at least 29 transgender people violently killed in 2017 across the United States, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

It reports violence disproportionately affects transgender women of color and trans-phobia in general derives them of employment, housing, and health care.