West Hollywood held a virtual Transgender Remembrance Day ceremony on Saturday reading the names of people killed as a result of anti-transgender violence.
The ceremony included a speech by Rev. Valerie Spencer and tributes from soul singer LZ Love and the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. It is available upon request on the West Hollywood YouTube page, www.youtube.com/wehotv.
Transgender Day of Remembrance was launched in 1999 by transgender lawyer Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed in 1998.
“At least 46 transgender people have been killed in horrific acts of violence in this country and hundreds more around the world this year,” President Joe Biden said in a statement on Transgender Remembrance Day. “Each of these lives was precious. Each of them deserved freedom, justice and joy. “
“Today, on Transgender Remembrance Day, we mourn those we lost in the deadliest year for transgender Americans, as well as the countless other transgender people – disproportionately black and brown transgender women and girls – the brutal violence and discrimination are exposed to “and harassment.”
“Transgender people are some of the bravest Americans I know. But nobody should be brave just to live in safety and dignity, ”the president’s statement continued. “Today we remember. Tomorrow – and every day – we must continue to act. “
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