Dateline West Hollywood – The City of West Hollywood and its Transgender Advisory Board will host the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance this evening at 6:30 at the West Hollywood Library Auto Court, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Following a reception, the event begins at 7.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is set aside to memorialize those who have lost their lives because of anti-transgender hatred and prejudice. The Day of Remembrance serves to publicly honor the lives of fallen trans brothers and sisters, and to bring public awareness of ongoing hate crimes against the transgender community. This evening will celebrate the lives of transgender persons throughout the world.
The latest figures collected as part of the Trans Murder Monitoring project by Transgender Europe shows that from January 2008 to April 2013, 1,233 transgender people were reported murdered in 59 countries worldwide with many more going unreported. Thirteen murders of transgender people were reported in the United States in the last 12 months, two of which occurred in Southern California.
This evening’s program will include the traditional reading of the names of transgender individuals who lost their lives in acts of hatred and violence. West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land will lead off the program. Special guests Zoey Barba Navarro (age 11) and her mother Ofelia will talk about Zoey’s trials and achievements. She came out this year as a young transgender girl.
Validated parking in the municipal parking structure will be provided for this free event.
For information, call Bonnie Smith at 323.848.6371.
Ms. Egan may be contacted at kegan@weho.org
