National Day Of Remembrance Honors Murdered Trans People
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National Day Of Remembrance Honors Murdered Trans People
Mother Couture Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:21 pm
Posted: November 20, 2007 - 11:00 am ET
(Washington) Vigils, services and a variety of other events are being held in 250 cities around the world today to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance - the day set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
The day will also draw attention to ENDA, the Employment Non Discrimination Act, which passed the House this month but without protections for the transgendered. (story)
ENDA originally included all members of the LGBT community, but its sponsor, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) one of only two openly gay members of Congress, removed gender identity fearing the legislation might not get out of committee.
ENDA, as currently worded, would make it illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee.
Following the committee vote Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) - the other openly gay member of Congress - proposed an amendment that would reinstate gender identity and secured the support of House leadership to introduce it. (story)
After a brief debate on the amendment in the House Baldwin pulled it before a vote. It allowed Baldwin to speak in favor of trans rights on the record, but without a recorded vote Republicans will not be able to use transgender rights as an election issue in 2008.
In withdrawing the amendment Baldwin said the fight is not over.
LGBT Democrats Tuesday called for the passage of an inclusive ENDA.
"Violence towards transgender Americans can be dramatically reduced by affirming individual dignity through equal enforcement of employment and hate crime laws," said Jon Hoadley, the Executive Director of National Stonewall Democrats.
"If we are serious about reducing violence towards transgender Americans, then we must proactively work towards providing all of our community equal protection under the law. It is our actions, rather than words, which which will demonstrate our tribute."
The first Transgender Day of Remembrance was organized by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in 1999 in San Francisco to honor the memory of Rita Hester who was murdered on November 28th, 1998.
Smith's candlelight vigil spread nationwide and then around the world. But Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.
While there are no official statistics - the FBI does not keep records of trans killings - transgender advocacy groups say they number in the hundreds over the past decade. Some studies have shown that crimes against the trans community accounts for 10 percent of all violent crimes in America.
Federal legislation to cover all of the LGBT community has passed in both the House and Senate. The legislation currently is in conference but Democrats are divided on how to proceed. (story)
Even if a final version is approved by Congress, the White House has threatened a veto
(Washington) Vigils, services and a variety of other events are being held in 250 cities around the world today to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance - the day set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
The day will also draw attention to ENDA, the Employment Non Discrimination Act, which passed the House this month but without protections for the transgendered. (story)
ENDA originally included all members of the LGBT community, but its sponsor, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) one of only two openly gay members of Congress, removed gender identity fearing the legislation might not get out of committee.
ENDA, as currently worded, would make it illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee.
Following the committee vote Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) - the other openly gay member of Congress - proposed an amendment that would reinstate gender identity and secured the support of House leadership to introduce it. (story)
After a brief debate on the amendment in the House Baldwin pulled it before a vote. It allowed Baldwin to speak in favor of trans rights on the record, but without a recorded vote Republicans will not be able to use transgender rights as an election issue in 2008.
In withdrawing the amendment Baldwin said the fight is not over.
LGBT Democrats Tuesday called for the passage of an inclusive ENDA.
"Violence towards transgender Americans can be dramatically reduced by affirming individual dignity through equal enforcement of employment and hate crime laws," said Jon Hoadley, the Executive Director of National Stonewall Democrats.
"If we are serious about reducing violence towards transgender Americans, then we must proactively work towards providing all of our community equal protection under the law. It is our actions, rather than words, which which will demonstrate our tribute."
The first Transgender Day of Remembrance was organized by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in 1999 in San Francisco to honor the memory of Rita Hester who was murdered on November 28th, 1998.
Smith's candlelight vigil spread nationwide and then around the world. But Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.
While there are no official statistics - the FBI does not keep records of trans killings - transgender advocacy groups say they number in the hundreds over the past decade. Some studies have shown that crimes against the trans community accounts for 10 percent of all violent crimes in America.
Federal legislation to cover all of the LGBT community has passed in both the House and Senate. The legislation currently is in conference but Democrats are divided on how to proceed. (story)
Even if a final version is approved by Congress, the White House has threatened a veto
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