As many of you may already know Transgender Day of Remembrance first started to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved, since then several more of our community members have been brutally murdered over the years which has resulted in mobilizing other cities to do the same.

We are nearing the 12th anniversary of the Trans Day of Remembrance which is on November 20th. Several organizations and groups are currently organizing locally and nationally for their cities.

With the Transgender Day of Remembrance just around the corner. We at TransCEND thought it would be a great idea to reach out to some well known Transgender celebrities and get their thoughts on what it means to be Transgender and to have a day of remembrance specifically for the trans community.

We recently reached out to America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 contestant Isis King to see if she would be willing to share her thoughts about TDOR. We thought it would be a great opportunity for folks to hear from her personally. She was so kind to provide us with her feedback.

So these are the questions that we had prepared for her with her answers:

1. What does being a part of the trans community mean to you?

Isis: Being a part of the Trans community doesn't mean much honestly. I want the world to know that it's not that big of a deal! Everyone wants to classify everything, and the more we as the T community allow that to happen, the more it makes us think we are different. I am not in a subclass; I am a woman who was born in the wrong body! There isn't a box to check off saying Trans, it says male or female.

2. What does the Trans Day of Remembrance mean to you?

Isis: I think it is important to remember those who have lost their lives because it is a very humbling idea of how we are blessed to live another day. To fight another battle, and live another day to be free as the people we believe we are. So many innocent lives have been taken and to remember them means to know things will get better.

3. What are your thoughts on what has been going on in the Trans community as of late?

Isis: There are still not enough positive role models around. There are too many people trying to rush to fame outing celebrities. This is a very dangerous thing, and only brings humiliation and danger to the person. The Trans community is still the "under the radar" movement that is coming up and there are so many ways to capitalize off of it that does not have to be in a negative way. I believe that the stories will only get bigger pulling everything that I, activists, and others who have tried to eliminate the stereotypes of T backwards. I am tired of the word Sex or Sex-worker being linked to being Born In The Wrong Body, and I am tired of people trying to find fame out of it!

4. How has it impacted you?

Isis: I refuse to let anything revolving around anything other than my life to affect me, and my mainstream career has nothing to do with that fact. This was my way of thinking way before "Isis the Celeb".  I had an idea of what I wanted to do, and where I wanted to be and not allowing anyone to negatively effect that means there is less room for error. I have always been one to make my own path, and designing my own destiny, not by what someone thinks or believe, but by my actions.

5. How has life as an out trans celebrity been for you?

Isis: I don't consider myself as "Out", just a woman who is comfortable enough in my skin to not be ashamed with who I am. I am grateful to be blessed with the platform to make it easier for those after me. I love the face that I bring normality to the topic! I am a normal woman with dreams and talents who works hard for everything I accomplish.

6. Do you have any thoughts about the recent LGBT bullying & suicides?

Isis: It saddens me every time I hear of another story. I think it is very important to be strong, and proactive. If someone is bullying that attention should be brought to the situation. Suicide is the coward way out. Finding solutions to the problem is around the corner. I am a firm believer that a simple prayer can answer any problem. It only gets better with a little dedication, a dream, and hope for a better future. There is always someone willing to help or to guide if the person feels alone or like they are unable to go to someone. Suicide is not the answer, just a way to leave those who care about you in heartache.

TransCEND would like to thank Isis King for taking the time to answer our questions and being so open. We will be featuring another High Profile Trans Celebs' thoughts very soon; so be on the look out for the next post.