November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a day to remember, grieve, and honor the lives of transgender persons who have died throughout the year because of anti-transgender violence. It is a day to affirm the dignity of trans lives and experiences that American society continues to marginalize, render invisible, and harm as well as “to demand an end to the violence against transgender people—particularly trans women of color,” as Tekla Taylor says in “The Remembrance Report” at Trans Remembrance Project.

Below are several prayers for Transgender Day of Remembrance along with a few additional resources that may be helpful for worship and formation in Christian communities. As always, when using or sharing, please give credit to the original sources.

A Collect to Remember and Affirm Gender Diverse People

“God of all genders and none,
Source of our glorious difference and true harmony,
Bearer of all pain and Spirit of transformation,
we give you thanks that you have created us in your own image,
in the many-splendoured forms of our human diversity.
Hear us as we remember and affirm gender diverse people.
Transform the violence, pain and struggles of the past and present,
bring new life out of death, hopelessness and despair,
and empower us with your grace, strength and joy.
May we be like kingfishers catching fire,
dragonflies drawing flame,
beautiful butterflies shining with your love.
In the name of Christ incarnate in a thousand places, and more. Amen.”

From “A Liturgy for the Transgender Day of Remembrance” by Josephine Inkpin, Trans Spirit Flourishing (Nov. 2021)

For Our Trans and Nonbinary Siblings Who Have Gone Before Us

“God of liberation, lift up, we pray, all our trans and nonbinary siblings who have gone before us, people on whose pathbreaking shoulders we stand. Be with us this day as we mourn these, your beloved, lost to violence this year. Bind us together in Beloved Community and strengthen us for the ongoing work of eradicating the intersecting evils of transphobia, transmisogyny, racism, sexism, and classism. May light perpetual shine upon those we have lost, may their names be for a blessing, and may we be inspired and energized to join in co-creating a world in which the dignity of all our humanity and of all creation is safeguarded and is honored. In your holy name we pray, Amen.”

From “Prayer for Trans Day of Remembrance, 2021,” TransEpiscopal (Nov. 20, 2021)

Lament with Psalms

“Reader 1:
How long, O God?
How long will transgender people suffer shame and loss because of who we are?
How long must we bear pain in our souls, and have sorrow in our hearts all day long?
How long shall we have enemies who persecute us, ridicule us, and gloat over us?
(adapted from Psalm 10)

“Reader 2:
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say, ‘I have prevailed.’
(from Ps 13)

“Reader 3:
Why do you stand far off, hiding yourself in times of trouble?
In fear the violent attack the vulnerable—
Let them be caught in the schemes their hearts have devised.
In confusion and disturbance the oppressors say,
‘There is no God who cares for the meek—
No God will find me out.’
Their mouths are filed with cursing and deceit and oppression
They sit in ambush
In stealth they murder the innocent.
The helpless fall by their might.
They think:
‘God has forgotten [the drag queens and cross-dressers, transgender men, transgender women, transgender children and youth, gender-queer people and intersex individuals]*—
God has hidden God’s face.’

“Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand
Do not forget the oppressed.
(from Ps 10)”

“*In this line place whatever names and identities best affirm the community.”

From “Prayer for Transgender Day of Remembrance” by Malcolm Himschoot

To the God of Love, Peace, and Wonder

“God of love, you weep with us in our grief and fear. Enfold in your loving embrace all those in our trans community lost to death this year. You know their names, Divine Creator, even when they are misnamed or misgendered as a last act of violence and erasure.  You see each one as beloved, and call them by their chosen name. You claim them as your children.

“God of peace, give comfort to those who mourn. Give courage to our trans communities in the face of cruelty and harassment. Bring to justice those who perpetrate this violence.

“Challenge us, O Holy One, to speak out for those who are silenced, to stand with those who are bullied, and to go with those who face danger.

“God of wonder, you are beyond gender. You made each of us in your image. Be with us today and always as we long for a day when every individual is safe and known and honored.

“We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who brings us all together in one human family. Amen.”

By Leo Bancroft, “A Prayer for Transgender Day of Remembrance,” Reconciling Works (Nov. 15, 2016)

Additional Resources

• “Prayers for Trans Day of Visibility from TransEpiscopal and Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission” – A compilation of collects, prayers of the people, and multiple forms for use on International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31), which may also be appropriate for liturgies on Transgender Day of Remembrance
• “The Remembrance Report,” Trans Remembrance Project – A report that includes information about the history of Transgender Day of Remembrance as well as data about trans lives lost over the last year
• “Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians” by Austen Hartke (Westminster John Knox, updated and expanded 2023) – A book that explores scripture with transgender people’s stories and experiences at the center; the updated edition includes a group discussion guide as well as a sermon series guide

Featured image is by Alexander Grey at Unsplash