AUSTIN, Texas — November 20 is marked as Transgender Day of Remembrance.  

• Transgender Day of Remembrance observed November 20
• Twenty-three victims of trans-phobic violence have died this year, according to Human Rights Campaign
• HRC says trans women of color are disproportionately affected by violence

To honor victims of trans-phobic violence, a service was held at the George Washington Carver museum in east Austin. Twenty-three empty seats on stage symbolized the 23 lives lost in the U.S. so far this year.

The Human Rights Campaign said a record number of trans Americans were killed last year, and they say that's a number that hasn't been slowing down.

"The number is a very low estimate,” Anna Nguyen, with the Transgender Education Network of Texas said. “I do believe that crimes of this type tend to be underreported for a number of reasons. Law enforcement may make mistakes in assigning gender to the victims."

A report by the human rights campaign shows trans women of color are disproportionately affected by violence.