Transgender Day of Remembrance

 

Written by: Diego Garcia Blum, Director, Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program

Every year on November 20th, Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) calls us to honor the lives of transgender individuals lost to violence, oppression, and systemic neglect. It is a day to reflect on the pervasive dangers faced by transgender communities worldwide, while also lifting up the legacies of those who dedicated their lives to creating a more just and inclusive world. This year, as we observe TDoR, I want to honor someone who meant a great deal to the Harvard Kennedy School and whose memory continues to inspire resistance and hope: Rodrigo Ventocilla.

Rodrigo and I served as co-chairs of the LGBTQ Caucus at Harvard Kennedy School in 2021-2022. A trailblazing activist, Rodrigo was passionate, kind, and unyielding in his pursuit of justice. In Peru, he founded Diversidades Trans Masculinas (DTM), an organization dedicated to uplifting transmasculine individuals through mental health support, advocacy, and community-building. Rodrigo’s leadership and vision transformed countless lives and created a sense of belonging for many who previously felt isolated.

In August 2022, Rodrigo’s life was tragically cut short under harrowing circumstances. While traveling in Bali, Indonesia, Rodrigo and his husband, Sebastián, were detained by police. According to his husband, they were subjected to horrific transphobic violence during their detention. Rodrigo died in police custody, leaving behind a devastated community both in Peru and at Harvard. He had been set to return to Harvard just a few months later to complete his final year of the Master in Public Administration in the International Development program.

Rodrigo’s death is a stark reminder of the violence transgender people face, even while engaging in something as ordinary as traveling for vacation, often at the hands of those tasked with protecting them.

Last June, I visited Rodrigo’s community in Peru and spent time with Sebastián and the leaders of DTM, who generously shared the details of their story. It was a deeply emotional experience as we wept reflecting on the discrimination Rodrigo and Sebastián endured.

Rodrigo’s community has not let his death be in vain. They have rallied together to carry forward his legacy, naming their new safe house “La Rodri” in his honor. This space now serves as a refuge for transmasculine individuals, offering mental health counseling, community gatherings, and a place where people can simply be themselves.

Earlier this year, on August 11—the anniversary of Rodrigo’s death—DTM declared it the Day Against Violence, Murder, and Disappearance of Transmasculine People. The day was marked by a gathering at La Rodri, where Rodrigo’s mother (and many others) spoke movingly about recovering from this tragedy with resilience, hope, and determination to stop the everyday violence faced by transgender people.

This TDoR, DTM joins us by sharing a message of their own: “Rodrigo reminded us that the life of a trans person is fragile in so many moments, and none of us have everything assured. But in the face of this, we cannot stop dreaming and fighting for our happiness, for those small moments that give meaning to everything. When a trans person dies, they never truly die. Their memory lives on in us.”

Their message captures the very essence of Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a day not only to honor lives lost, but also to affirm the strength and interconnectedness of transgender communities across the globe. Rodrigo’s story, though devastating, serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative force of solidarity—the way it binds us together in grief, in resistance, and in the shared hope for a world where all transgender lives are valued and protected.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is not just about mourning—it is about taking action. It is about ensuring that the systemic injustices Rodrigo faced are dismantled and that future generations of transgender individuals can live with dignity, safety, and freedom. Rodrigo’s memory challenges us to confront the institutions and systems that perpetuate violence and oppression, from law enforcement to healthcare, and to envision a world where trans joy is not a radical act, but a shared reality. At the Carr Center's Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program, we will continue to work to make the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights real for transgender people.

Today, as we remember Rodrigo and countless others lost to transphobic violence, let us also celebrate the strength of communities like DTM. Their resilience, creativity, and unyielding hope remind us that while the struggle is far from over, the dream of a better world remains within our reach.

Rodrigo, your memory lives on in all of us who carry forward your vision of justice and love. When a trans person dies, they never truly die.