So far in the United States this year, at least 22 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been violently killed, though Human Rights Campaign suspects much under-reporting.
November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a day to memorialize the hundreds of trans folks lost to anti-transgender violence worldwide. The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach will be joining over 100 cities worldwide in honoring the lives lost at a memorial at Harvey Milk Promenade Park at 6:30 p.m.
“The LGBTQ Center Long Beach is committed to providing support and resources to transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people who have experienced violence in our community through our affirming anti-violence services,” the Center’s Executive Director Porter Gilbert said in an interview.
The first Transgender Day of Remembrance was held 20 years ago to honor transgender murder victim Rita Hester, whose case has yet to be solved.
Nearly all hate crimes targeting transgender people were violent, according to the latest Hate Crimes Report from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. 92 percent of these hate crimes target transgender women. Furthermore, this year transgender folks have been under assault by the federal government, most recently by the Department of Health and Human Services, which has moved to remove protections from discrimination in healthcare.
This year’s event will feature acclaimed singer Jaila Simms, remarks from several staff members of The Center, information available services to the transgender community in Long Beach, and a reading of names of transgender people murdered in the last year. Beverages and pastries will be available to all attendees and all-gender restrooms will be available at Hamburger Mary’s and Groundwork Fitness.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance will take place Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Harvey Milk Promenade Park (3rd and Promenade). The Transgender Day of Remembrance is free and open to the public and fully accessible with on site ASL interpretation. This year’s event is hosted will be hosted with the in-kind support of the Office of Mayor Robert Garcia, Berlin by Portfolio Coffeehouse, Century Villages at Cabrillo, and the Water Replenishment District of Southern California.
For more information contact The Center at 562.434.4455 or visit www.centerlb.org
