341 Lives Mourned, Names Read, at Transgender Day of Remembrance Service
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 29, 2025)
Ferndale, MI – “Culturally it’s said as long as a name is spoken, that person isn’t really dead.”
The sentiment was shared by Elder Hattie Alexander-Key who gave the invocation at the Nov 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony at Affirmations.
Each year Gender Identity Network Alliance hosts the service where volunteers read the names of transgender people who died in the previous year from murder or suicide. While saying their name won’t bring them back, it does mean that they are remembered and honored by all the groups that hold such events worldwide. The list includes people from many countries, including those in the United States.
Five of the names spoken were of people from Michigan.
Tahiry Broom was fatally shot in Southfield on Feb. 11, 2025.
Karmin Wells was murdered in her home on May 24, 2025.
Christina Hayes of Taylor was strangled to death in Detroit on June 21, 2025.
The list also included two members of the trans community that died of suicide, Mack Golia of Grand Rapids, and Ryan Skates of Berkley, who was just 16 years old.
“In this political climate, people are targeted based on who they love and how they live,” said Kam Towns, an Assistant in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Towns urged those in attendance to report crime, and to do so quickly. Reporting harassment and assault can make the community safer. “Whether you’re a victim or a witness, members of the LGBTQ+ community are notorious non-reporters.”
She added that reports should be made quickly, even if the victim is afraid. “I cannot stress enough the importance of coming forward immediately,” Towns said. “It’s hard to explain to a jury why somebody waited three days before going to the police.” Even if people are hesitant to involved the police, Towns explained, “charging decisions are made in the prosecutor’s office.” In Wayne and Oakland Counties, Prosecutors have been welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Community Engagement Liaison for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Julisa Abad also spoke at the event, sharing that her office helped conduct nearly 800 name changes for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Abad also urged community members to be careful, especially when meeting new people. “We live in a time that is crazy, and online dating is even crazier. Take pictures and send to somebody you know in case we need to find you.”
Between the speeches was the solemn tradition of reading each name, location, and date of death. The names were read by Carmen Garcia-Horn and Terri Agokwe and candles were lit by Eric Folkmire and Julia Music. Natalie Siagkris-Seymour played piano and guitar to set the solemn mood.
Gender Identity Network Alliance Director Michelle Fox-Phillips led the ceremony and shared the history of the day. Transgender Day of Remembrance started in response to the Nov 1998 murder of Rita Hester in Sand Francisco, CA. Attendees of Hester’s candlelight vigil began a website, “Remembering Our Dead,” to pay homage to transgender lives lost to violence. The event brings attention to hate crimes against the trans community, and the toll that transphobia takes on transgender and nonbinary people. It also provides a space for people to gather, mourn, and come together.
Learn more about GNA at https://gnausa.org/
Learn more about Affirmations at http://www.goaffirmations.org
