On a moonlit evening, with the snow melting from the trees, it looks to be just another November night. 

"I see a face in the mirror looking sad to see me," said event organizer Maysam Seraji.  

But inside of the Syracuse May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, dozens congregate to remember those no longer with us.

"I try not to stare at her, but I can't help but think that she cannot be me," said Seraji. 

"The purpose of this event was to remember those that have been lost to transphobic violence." 

November 20 is recognized as the Transgender Day of Remembrance. According to a report published by the United Nations, The Trans Murder Monitoring project documented more than 2,000 murders in 66 countries between 2008 and 2016. That's equivalent to a killing every two days.

In Syracusen people are here to remember those lost and to celebrate the resilience of the trans community.

"They used to ask why I'm like this; now they have found that their greater purpose is to help others lost in the gender circus," said Seraji.

"It's been firmly impressed upon me that I need to move forward, no matter what. I don't know what it is. I have a desire to live and celebrate life and be there for people and inspire other people to do the same. That's kind of my conviction at this point," Seraji said.