11/20/2008 is the 9th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance

[racaulk]

Tomorrow, November 20th, is the 9th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, and time to take a moment to think of those who face unique issues and circumstances as transgendered persons, and who tragically are too often the subject of discrimination and violence. The website www.gender.org describes the origination of this observation:

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November 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.

Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgendered — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgendered people.

We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred based violence, especially since the events of September 11th. Yet even now, the deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. This trend shows no sign of abating.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgendered people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgendered people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence."

Here are some online resources regarding the Transgender Day of Remembrance:
http://www.gender.org/remember/day/what.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_Day_of_Remembrance
http://www.glaad.org/publications/kits/dayofremembrance

[mitchtv]

1. I can't imagine how many have been murdered

Many,many, many, We have lost many good ,loving people. A shout out to an old friend the late Candy Darling and all the rest

[keepCAblue]

4. Here are just a few. Warning: clicking the link below will break your heart.

http://www.gender.org/remember/about/core.html

[Duncan Grant]

2. Thanks for posting! k&r

:kick:

[Candie Date]

3. I've had friends murdered from being bashed.

This is a very solemn day for me.

[The Doctor.]

5. I remember that poor girl that was killed...

Found her;

http://www.postchronicle.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=82&num=161148

'Angie'. She was so loved... and killed by ignorance.

[bluedawg12]

6. Thanks for posting this. K&R

[racaulk]

7. Kick

[Duncan Grant]

8. kick

:kick: