Boston to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance
Vigil and Speak-Out, preceded by Town Hall Meeting, on Sunday, Nov 18

On Sunday November 18, Boston’s transgender community, with
family, friends and allies, will gather at the Arlington Street Church
to remember and honor transgender victims of violence. The
Remembrance observance will be preceded by an afternoon Town
Hall Meeting conducted by the Massachusetts Transgender Political
Coalition (MTPC).

The Transgender Day of Remembrance observance starts in the
Arlington Street Church sanctuary at 7PM. The program includes
invited speakers followed by a community speak-out, then a
candlelight vigil to Copley Square, returning to the church for a
warm-up reception.

Included this year will be a presentation about the honoring of Debra
Forte, a Haverhill transgender women murdered in 1995. A stone
bearing her name was placed this past fall in Boston’s Garden of Peace,
a memorial commemorating victims of homicide.

Starting at 3PM, all are welcome to MTPC’s Town Hall Meeting, for an
opportunity to hear from and speak with some of our state’s leading
transgender activists LGB allies. Each year MTPC holds this meeting to
inform the community about the work of MTPC and the state of
transgender rights in Massachusetts and at the Federal level. This
year’s keynote speaker is Representative Carl Sciortino, who will be
speaking about the pending Massachusetts legislation HB 1722, “An Act
Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes”.

MTPC will also be providing training and information on how to reach out
to and educate legislators about HB 1722 and the issues transgender
people face in Massachusetts. There will be presentations about MTPC’s
activities, followed by time for feedback and commentary. MTPC
particularly encourages those who want to learn more about
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition and/or HB 1722 to
attend the Town Hall Meeting.

Boston’s transgender and LGB community extends a warm welcome to all
who would like to attend this important event to memorialize our dead
and underscore the seriousness of the suffering of our communities.
No persons should be subjected to violence simply because of their
gender identity or expression. No persons should be denied the basic
rights that enable their safety and security. Please join with us on
this day to remember our dead, whatever the cause of their departure.

Co-sponsors of Boston’s Transgender Day of Remembrance include TransCend
of Cambridge Cares About AIDS, Keshet, BAGLY, GLSEN Boston, and MTPC.

For the latest list of sponsors and details about the day’s events,
please visit http://www.masstpc.org/dor

Event Background:
Eight years ago at this time, Boston’s LGBT community recoiled in
horror at the discovery of the latest victim of transphobic violence.
Rita Hester, a popular figure in the local rock `n roll scene, who
also happened to be a transsexual, had been found brutally stabbed to
death in her Brighton apartment. Like so many killings of gay and
transgender persons, the victim was subjected to enough brutality to
kill her many times over.

A local community of queer activists, rockers, family, friends and
allies – over 250 of them – came together and held a speak-out and
candlelight vigil in Rita’s honor, forming a human stream of light
winding its way through Rita’s old Brighton stomping grounds. One
year later, a memorial vigil was held in San Francisco; the following
year Boston and a few other cities joined in, and this year hundreds
of observances will be held in dozens of countries.

Boston’s transgender community remembers Chanelle Pickett, Debra
Forte, Monique Thomas, and Rita Hester, all of whom were more recent
local transgender victims of unusually violent and hateful murders.
Before these, there were many more, mostly uncounted and unnoticed by
all but their friends and family.

These events are free, open to everyone, and there will be limited
video/photo policy will be in place. For more information visit
www.masstpc.org. If your organization would like to become a sponsor
of TDOR or you would like to volunteer helping to organize the event
contact Nancy at nnangeroni@masstpc.org. If your organization would
like to sponsor the Town Hall meeting or you are member of the press
contact Gunner gscott@masstpc.org