TW/ transgender violence and murder
Benjamin Southwick's piece 'We will Remember Them', was made alongside a recorded piece of music. Although we aren't able to publish the music, this transcript of performance notes should provide an understanding of Southwick's multi-media art:
We Will Remember Them by Benjamin Southwick
This piece was written to commemorate the lives of the 46 trans people reported to have died
over the course of 2021 before Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20 th November 2021.
Each line on the painting represents one of the 46 people who have died so far this year as a
result of transphobic hate crimes. For context, this is the highest number that the Human Rights
Campaign has recorded since records began in 2013. This is not a complete list of those killed
because of their gender, as most cases go unreported.
Read aloud the names, ages, dates and locations of those to be memorialised together;
everyone reads the text together and when each performer reads a name they want to
remember they start playing. Whomever is last to start playing should continue to read the entire
list out then play upon completion. To play, follow one of the lines on the canvas as viewed from
where you are sitting. You may play on any strings and make any noise but each line must grow
to a crescendo, then when full of life and volume stop immediately. These crescendi should not
happen at the same time.
The list to be read is as follows:
‘Tyianna “Davarea” Alexander, 28, January 6, Chicago
Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín, January 9, Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
Bianca “Muffin” Bankz, 30, January 17, Atlanta
Dominique Jackson, 30, January 25, Jackson, Miss.
Fifty Bandz, 21, January 28, Baton Rouge, La.
Alexus Braxton, February 4, Miami
Chyna Carrillo, 24, New Wilmington Borough, Pa., February 18
Jeffery “JJ” Bright, 16, and Jasmine Canady, 22, February 22, Ambridge, Pa.
Jenna Franks, 34, February 24, Jacksonville, N.C.
Aidelen Evans, 24, March, Port Arthur, Texas
Diamond Kyree Sanders, 23, March 3, Cincinnati
Rayanna Pardo, 26, March 17, Los Angeles
Jaida Peterson, 29, April 4, Charlotte, N.C.
Dominque Lucious, 26, April 8, Springfield, Mo.
Remy Fennell, 28, April 15, Charlotte, N.C.
Tiara Banks, 24, April 21, Chicago
Jahaira DeAlto Balenciaga, 42, April 23, Boston
Natalia Smüt, 24, April 23, Milpitas, Calif.
Iris Santos, 22, April 23, Houston
Tiffany Thomas, 38, April 24, Dallas
Keri Washington, 49, May 1, Clearwater, Fla.
Thomas Hardin, May 2, York, S.C.
Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, 41, May 3, York, Pa.
Sophie Vásquez, 36, May 4, Brookhaven, Ga.
Danny Henson, 31, May 4, Baltimore
Serenity Hollis, 24, May 8, Albany, Ga.
Poe Delwyn Black, 21, May 11, Slab City, Calif.
Oliver “Ollie” Taylor, 17, May 20, Oregon
Tierramarie Lewis, June 12, Cleveland
EJ Boykin, 23, June 14, Lynchburg, Va.
Taya Ashton, 20, July 17, Suitland, Md.
Shai Vanderpump, 23, July 30, Trenton, N.J.
Miss CoCo, 44, August 7, Dallas
Pooh Johnson, August 23, Shreveport, La.
Zoella Martinez, 20, August 31, Seattle
Disaya Monaee, 27, September 6, Dolton, Ill.
Brianna Ulmer, 25, September 17, Chicago
Kièr Solomon, 21, September 30, Arlington, Texas
Mel Groves, 25, October 11, Jackson, Miss.
Royal Poetical Starz, 20, October 2, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Jessi Hart, 42, October 17, Banks, Ore.
Jo Acker, 26, October 25, Boise, Idaho
Tru Starlet, 39, October 30, Centralia, WA
Marquiisha Lawrence, 28, November 4, South Carolina
We will remember them.’