November is Transgender Awareness Month and Nov. 20 is Transgender Remembrance Day. On Sunday night, in St. Petersburg, about 80 people gathered at the steps of city hall to hold a candle light vigil for trans people killed this year - most are women of color.
They read 25 names of those who've been killed this year in America. Aspen Love of St. Petersburg, who's black and a trans woman, said she thanks God that she's alive.
"I'm so grateful to have a family that loves me, because my name could've been on that list too," she said.
Tristan Byrnes, a trans man from St. Petersburg, played am Alicia Keys song entitled "Holy War." a sort of anthem about tearing down walls and loving people.
"Everybody leave here and take care of one another," he said, on the verge of tears. "That's all we have is each other. So, hold your loved ones a little closer."
So far, there have been about 30 trans murders reported nationally. That doesn't include those that haven't been reported or those who've been misgendered. It also excludes people in the trans community who've committed suicide.
