We people, gathered here today on the quest for truth and meaning, bear witness.
We bear witness.
To the record of human lives extinguished, simply because these people dared to live authentically,
we bear witness.
To the lives and reported deaths of (number) transgender people, globally, so far this year,
we bear witness.
To the lives and reported deaths of (number) transgender people, in these United States, so far this year,
we bear witness.
To the unreported ones, uncounted ones, the unnamed many, whose lives and deaths will only ever be known by the Universe,
we bear witness.
(pause)
In these times of heightened anxiety, we who are gathered here today reject the teachings of division and ignorance; and commit to siding with love against hatred.
we bear witness.
Against close-minded ideologies that excuse evil acts in the name of religion,
we bear witness.
Against any administration that seeks to fuel their rise to power by threatening the lives of transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary people,
we bear witness.
Against systemic power structures that treat transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary people – particularly those who are people of color – as being anything less than human,
we bear witness.
(pause)
On this day, we who are queer folk and allies, gathered together, uphold the First Principle that speaks to the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
We bear witness.
For those transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary people who are gathered among us today,
we bear witness.
For those who are allied to the cause of protecting our transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary siblings,
we bear witness.
For those who exist, boldly, unapologetically, in public space as fully authentic transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary people,
we bear witness.
(invitation to speak names of those we wish to hold in the light)
These remembered deaths have not gone unnoticed by us.
We bear witness.
Sacred, transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary lives do not go unnoticed by us.
We bear witness.