Photo of Perth's Skyline from the South Perth foreshore just before the sunset.

Transfolk WA acknowledges the Whajuk Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are based. We pay respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Sovereignty was never ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain pages or resources with images, voices or names of deceased persons.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil

Transfolk WA, with support from Pride WA, is hosting a candlelight vigil on the evening of International Transgender Day of Remembrance for all trans and gender diverse people, their families, friends and allies.

Content warning: This vigil commemorates trans and gender diverse people lost to transphobia, violence and suicide. It will include direct discussion of transphobia, death and grief.

About the day: Trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith started Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) in 1999 to honour Rita Hester, a trans woman killed in 1998. It has since become an annual day to remember all trans people lost to violence and suicide.

Key details:
Date: Friday 20 November 2026
Event time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm (formalities 6:30pm – 7:30pm)
Performer arrival: 5:45pm at the latest, for a pre-briefing
Venue: Queens Gardens, corner of Hay Street and Hale Street, East Perth
Time slots: 2–5 minutes
EOIs close: 6:00pm, Thursday 5 November 2026
EOI review: We’ll start reviewing EOIs from Thursday 29 October, so early submissions are welcome
Scripts due: Friday 13 November 2026

Theme: Side by Side
In line with this year’s Pride Month theme, ‘Side by Side’, this Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil will focus on how our community holds, supports and stands with one another, and we invite our allies to stand with us too. As we honour the siblings we have lost to transphobic hatred and violence, we commit to standing together in solidarity as we work towards a safer, more inclusive world.

You don’t need to have known someone personally to contribute. Your piece could be:

  • a tribute to the courage of living authentically
  • a reflection on our shared grief and resilience
  • a commitment to carrying our strength and solidarity forward.

What we’re looking for:
We welcome speakers, storytellers, poets, musicians, performers and artists, and other contributions that suit the theme. We’re looking for pieces that are reflective and respectful and honour the gravity of the day, such as a story that celebrates someone’s joy, a poem about resilience, a soulful song or a performance offered as a tribute. Each slot is 2–5 minutes.

If you are keen to perform, please complete the EOI form via this link: Performer EOI form

Payment: Performing at this event is voluntary. This community event is mostly organised by volunteers on a limited budget, and we unfortunately do not have funds to pay performers this year.

For more information about parking and accessibility, please see the TDOR 2026 Performer Information Sheet.