If Nov 19, Tuesday, was the International Men's Day, the following day was the turn of transgender. Brits celebrated Transgender Day of Remembrance on Wednesday, Nov 20, with vigils and memorial events across the country and globally.

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A day was picked to remember dead trannies who were victims of discrimination and violence, with the first commemoration made in 1998 after Rita Hester, an African American transgender in Aliston, Massachusetts was killed.

Ms Hester's death led Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a tranny graphic designer, columnist and activist to establish the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Latest data from the Trans Respect Monitoring Project showed that in the past 12 months, 238 trannies were murdered, although the actual figure could be higher due to underreporting.

For 2013, the ninth year of remembering the fallen transgenders, the commemoration event was held at the University of London Union on Malet Street, Bloombury, at 7 pm. Journalist and broadcaster Paris Lees was the keynote speaker.

Typical activities include a reading of the names of dead transgenders who were killed the last 12 months, candlelight vigils, art shows, food festivals, film showing and marches.

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