On 20^th November 1998, Rita Hester was murdered. On the anniversary of Rita’s death, Gwendolyn Ann Smith organised a vigil. The vigil commemorated all trans people who had died, through violence, in the intervening year. In the 2017-18 year 369 transgender people were killed, that is more than one per day.

We often think of the United Kingdom as a safe place, but even here transgender people have been killed, just because of their trans status. On 18^th March 2018, Naomi Hersi was stabbed to death by Jesse McDonald from Trowbridge.

Every day transgender people face hostility, taunting, and discrimination. On each occasion this happens we do not know if the situation is going to escalate into violence. Transgender people need to stay vigilant.