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The Transgender Day of Remembrance, Nov. 20, 2010

by Lou Weaver, Board of Directors
Transgender Foundation of America

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a world-wide event created to show honor and respect to those who have been murdered in the past year just for being who they are. This event is a somber reminder that no one, regardless of gender or orientation, is safe from assault.

The event is held in November for a variety of reasons. In the Latin world, November is the time…for commemorating the Dead, the Sun is in Scorpio, our thoughts turn inward. Unfortunately, we also have gruesome reasons for choosing November. Rita Hester was killed on 28 November 1998, and a candlelight vigil was held in San Francisco in her honor. Her murder has still not been solved.

Most hate crimes go unsolved due to a variety of reasons: the police ignore them, the media does a poor job of reporting them with the respect they deserve; even the community itself turns an indifferent face to these crimes. It is for this reason that we need to remind everyone that hatred does not discriminate. Our sons, daughters, parents, lovers, friends, and yes, even our “ straight” friends have been murdered. Let us not forget that Jan Matarrase, a straight woman, was attacked in front of her husband for resembling a gay man. The attackers stopped only after she exposed her breasts.

We observe the Transgender Day of Remembrance yearly for many reasons. We have to draw awareness of hate crimes against transgender people in a time when yellow journalism sees itself in the role of entertaining a gullible public, and when mainstream journalism has mangled their duty to “ let facts be submitted to a candid world.” We mourn and honor our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. We express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred, and we give our allies a chance to step forward with us and denounce these terrorists and perpetrators of hate crimes.

For more information, visit HTUC.org

When: Nov 20, 2010 7:00 pm
Where: AD Bruce Religion Center UH Main

campusmap.uh.edu/cgi-bin/campusmap

Wine, water, and hors d’oeuvres wil be served.
Business casual attire, or better is suggested.

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