November 14, 2012 | 10:52 am

Transgender Day of Remembrance and After Shul Special at Beth Chayim Chadashim

Posted by Kalil Cohen

Follow JewishJournal.com on

This coming weekend will mark the eighth year that Beth Chayim Chadishim, the world’s oldest queer synagogue, will have a special Shabbat service to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is held all over the world on November 20th to commemorate the lives of those lost to bigotry and anti-transgender violence, with related events happening throughout the month of November. “The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, …[and] publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people… [and] gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil...” - Gwendolyn Ann Smith, www.transgenderdor.org

Services at BCC will celebrate and remember the lives of our lost Trans/Gender Queer sisters and brothers in community with song and prayer. Led by Rabbi Lisa Edwards, Cantor Juval Porat and Transgender Lay Leader Kadin Henningsen. Kadin, the first transgender person to serve on BCC's Board of Directors, had this to say about the upcoming event: "What I really love about BCC's Transgender Day of Remembrance Shabbat is how inclusive it is. While lay leadership has been a long-standing tradition at BCC, Rabbi Lisa Edwards and Cantor Juval Porat have really helped empower transgender members of the community to be actively involved in creating and leading the TDOR Shabbat service. I feel very blessed to have their continued support and encouragement while helping BCC over the last four years create a strong TDOR Shabbat tradition that is both meaningful and speaks to the transgender experience through song, liturgy and prayer." (See below for full event information.)

While this is the eighth time that BCC has commemorated Transgender Day of Remembrance, this is the very first time that they have combined this rather somber event with the much more uplifting After Shul Special concert featuring Coyote Grace and organized by the 20s/30s havurah. Coyote Grace is a folk trio mixing bluegrass and blues, soul and Southern twang, armed with a bevy of acoustic instruments from guitar and upright bass to banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and accordion. I am extremely excited for this new development, because it is crucial that along with remembering the struggles that we face as transgender people, that we also celebrate the beauty of our lives. Coyote Grace is a perfect fit for this because their song lyrics range from the political to the emotional, from funny to painful to uplifting, and they put on a fantastic and energetic live show. See below for tickets and event information.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Services in Los Angeles:
Friday Nov 16th, 7:30pm
Beth Chayim Chadashim
6000 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Join us for a special Shabbat service in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance led by Rabbi Lisa Edwards, Cantor Juval Porat and Transgender Lay Leader Kadin Henningsen. Celebrate and remember the lives of our lost Trans/Gender Queer sisters and brothers in community with song and prayer. This will be followed by an oneg.
Can’t make it in person? Shabbat Services will be live streamed here.

After Shul Special: Coyote Grace information:
Friday, November 16, 9pm.
Beth Chayim Chadashim
6000 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Don’t miss this private concert, sponsored by the 20s/30s Havurah, featuring COYOTE GRACE in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance.

At once radically progressive and unashamedly nostalgic, Coyote Grace has produced four albums and toured extensively as the opening band for the Indigo Girls.
“Coyote Grace plays with the heart of traditional country and Americana music, but tells their stories with a bold twist.  They write heartwrenching melodies and make such textured harmonies that I find myself enraptured and taken by their timelessness of song.” Amy Ray (Indigo Girls)

Pre-purchased Tickets are $15 for members, $18 for non-members. At the door: $18 for members, $20 for non-members. Please help us keep Shabbat business-free by purchasing your ticket/s in advance for this wonderful celebration of life.
For more information and ticketing details, visit our Coyote Grace event page on Facebook.  Please invite your friends. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
Watch a music video by Coyote Grace here.