Equality PA Commemorates the Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20, 2016 | #TDOR2016

Link to this statement: http://equalitypa.org/?p=2408

Harrisburg – During Transgender Awareness Week, Equality PA staff, supporters and volunteers will be participating in visibility and awareness events to support and uplift transgender and gender non-conforming people.

Executive Director, Ted Martin, released this statement today to commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day set aside each year to remember those transgender people who were murdered simply because of who they are and to fight for justice for all transgender people.

Ted Martin, "On the Transgender Day of Remembrance we remember those we lost in the transgender community to violence-and we also acknowledge that due to lack of acceptance, we lost many transgender people to suicide this year. Here in Pennsylvania, we have seen too many young people lost to senseless violence in recent years, including, Maya Young, London Chanel, Kiesha Jenkins, and Diamond Williams. And many others who go unnamed.

Violence against transgender women, and particularly transgender women of color, is too commonplace and it must stop. Without the recognition of the full human dignity of all transgender people, we will never be able to solve this problem. While there are more visible transgender people in media and popular culture, the daily reality of harassment, discrimination, and, too often, violence for the majority of transgender people in America is not acceptable. And our work to stop violence and discrimination has recently become even more critical in the political environment that we find ourselves in today.

That's why it is so important today to stand up and say the names of those we have lost, and to rededicate our fight for justice for all transgender people.

Equality PA continues to fight for full equality of transgender people by advocating for the end to systemic issues that limit transgender people's access to health care, jobs, housing, and other basic needs."

Ted Martin will speak at the Candlelight Vigil hosted by TransCentral PA in Harrisburg on November 20, 2015 on the Capitol Steps (on 3rd St.) at 6:30 PM. President of TransCentral PA and Equality PA board member, Joanne Carroll, will also speak at the event.

For a list of Transgender Day of Remembrance events around the state visit the Pennsylvania Youth Congress Page: http://keystonestudentvoice.com/2016/10/tdor2016/

ABOUT EQUALITY PENNSYLVANIA

With 60,000 members across the commonwealth, Equality Pennsylvania is the leading organization advancing equality and opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pennsylvanians.