Transgender Day of Remembrance

by Steve Rothaus, Miami Herald

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force commemorates Transgender Day of Remembrance

News release:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is today commemorating the Transgender Day of Remembrance, the day when the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community remembers people lost to anti-transgender violence over the past year. The Task Force Web site banner is black today and features the phrase "We Remember," in memory of the 11 known deaths of transgender people in 2007.

This year marks the ninth year that the Transgender Day of Remembrance has been commemorated. A list of transgender people lost to violence can be found here. Events marking the day are being held in many cities across the United States, including New York City, Washington, D.C., and Seattle, Wash.

Statement by Matt Foreman, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

"Anti-transgender hate violence remains disturbingly pervasive in our society. While we must continue to fight for hate crime laws that punish perpetrators of these crimes, and employment nondiscrimination laws that rightfully allow transgender people to keep their jobs and stay off the streets where they are more vulnerable to attacks, we must also continue to help every American understand who transgender people are and how anti-transgender bias leads to discrimination and violence. Until no more of our transgender friends and family are lost to senseless hate violence, we must not rest."

Visit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Web site here.

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Resources:

Transgender Day of Remembrance Links via Questioning Transphobia

Keeping Yourself Safe: Anti-trans violence awareness and prevention tips

The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)