On the morning of Thursday, October 27, 2016, a collaboration between UC Riverside and the Smithsonian Latino Center Live Mobile Broadcast series brought a special Day of the Dead-themed program to Tomás Rivera Library.

Smithsonian Latino Center’s Digital Curator and Content Specialist and Assistant Professor in UCR's Department of Music, Dr. Xochitl Chavez co-presented with Dr. Amalia Cabezas, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies. The lecture was titled, “Not Invisible! Not Forgotten! Stories of Trans Sex Workers.”

During the lecture, students of GSST 138 (Gender and the Sex Trade) together with Professors Cabezas and Chavez created a community altar for Dia de Los Muertos to honor the lives of transgender sex workers. Some of the women chosen by the students had been murdered by their clients or had died through other violent means.

 “I was so happy to be a part of this altar,” said Caitlin Heavner, a student in GSST 138 and a Gender and Sexuality Studies major. “Raising awareness about the violence and injustice that sex workers and trans sex workers go through is not prevalent enough in this society, so the fact that our class was able to honor these women and give them a voice was such an empowering and amazing feat.”

Caitlin added that she felt Professor Cabezas and Professor Chavez had done a great job organizing this project. More than forty participants attended the live lecture.

A video of the full program is available online.

Photo credit: Caitlin Heavner