‘Lift us all up’: Lives lost honored at Transgender Day of Remembrance

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to honor the memory of transgender and nonbinary individuals who were lost in 2025, either to homicide or to suicide. People in the Capital Region recently gathered to pay their respects and pay tribute to the individuals who died too soon. During the ceremony, members of the transgender/nonbinary community read the 64 names of those who died, followed by a call and response portion. Rauch Passaro was one of the individuals who participated, sharing that they felt very heartened to see a ceremony like this take place in their community. “Especially in years where we’re affected by the loss in our own community, it really hits home, so I am so grateful to be able to have everyone come together and see the community support for this year after year,” Passaro said. “These times are undeniably scary it’s contentious, but it’s events like this that really underline how these are the things that bind us. In life, across the board, everyone has something that they can relate to each other on. “I hope those who attend leave with just a little more thoughtfulness, a little more patience and a desire to understand each other and stay connected to people and to find things that lift us all up.” Attendees were able to take part in a candlelight vigil and listen to readings from Rabbi Illana Symons of Temple Sinai and Rev. Jo Urrriola-Shonewolf of Saratoga United Methodist Church, as well as musical performances of “Whisper” and“Take Me Down to the Water’s Edge” by Trace Ellis. The ceremony, which took place in the Wyckoff Center on the Skidmore College campus, was put together in partnership between Saratoga Pride and Skidmore College. Mariel Martin, director of the Wyckoff Center, shared with the Saratogian ahead of the ceremony not only how fitting a location it was to hold such a ceremony, but how proud she was to be a part of this annual remembrance. “The Wyckoff Center is a space for cross-cultural communication, community engagement, connection across identity, culture across difference and so really it is a space to affirm all members of our community, so it feels like a really fitting space to have it,” Mariel Martin, director of the Wyckoff Center, shared ahead of the ceremony. “Skidmore College does not exist in isolation, we are connected to the wider Saratoga community and creating really intentional spaces where we invite in members of the community . especially in this space and on our campus and in our wider Saratoga community, I think it’s so important to hold space for everybody who lives, works, learns and is part of this community and really uplifting and affirming them in all of their identities. “Creating a space to say you’re seen and you’re validated in all that you bring to our community, because you’re part of us too.” The Transgender Day of Remembrance has been observed internationally on Nov. 20 since 1999, with a local event taking place in Saratoga Springs for the last six years. Cindy Swadba, a volunteer with Saratoga Pride, shared that the organization was challenged by a former speaker they had at one of their events to host a Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony, and it has been something the organization has committed to doing annually in the years since. “This is a memorial, and it’s also an educational opportunity. We’re talking about what it means to be transgender, the speakers today, with a couple of exceptions, are all transgender and from the local area,” Swaba said. “It’s a very solemn event, and we speak about the transgender and non-binary members of our community, and those who’ve lost their lives to violence or suicide. “We gather in this place to do that, to remember and to lift our transgender members of this community to show them that we care that we’re here.” Swaba added that she hopes attendees of the ceremony feel inclined to share their experience with other people in their lives, just let those they know how meaningful it was and let them know that they stood by the transgender, non-binary community. “I hope they take away a new understanding and a new peace to be at peace with themselves and certainly with others.” For more information about The Transgender Day of Remembrance and to see the list of names read, visit.
https://www.troyrecord.com/2025/11/22/lift-us-all-up-lives-lost-honored-at-transgender-day-of-remembrance/