THE international Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) will be marked with a candlelit vigil in Middlesbrough next week.

The event has been organised in a bid to honour those who have died as a result of anti-transgender hate crimes.

Held across the world on or around November 20th each year, the annual TDOR was originally launched in tribute to Rita Hester whose 1998 murder remains unsolved.

In the last decade, experts estimate more than one person a month has died due to attacks arising from transgender based prejudice.

The Middlesbrough event will see the town’s transgender community and its allies gather in a bid to raise awareness of the issues they face.

Organised by the Cleveland Transgender Association, the vigil will take place at Middlesbrough town hall from 6pm on Thursday, November 20.

For more information, join the Cleveland Transgender Association Facebook community.