In November 1998, Rita Hester, a transgender woman in Boston, MA, answered a knock at her door. Instead of a friendly face, however, the person at the door was an assailant who forced entry into her apartment and stabbed her over 20 times. Rita’s death proved to be the event that focused the attention of transgender people everywhere on the terrible violence often inflicted upon them. Rita’s case, like most cases of transgender violence, is yet to be solved.
Beginning in November 1999, with a candlelight vigil held in San Francisco, CA, the Transgender Day of Remembrance has been observed in many cities worldwide.
A vigil to be held in Tampa, FL on November 19 will honor the life of Ronny Paris Jr., a three-year-old boy beaten to death by his father, Ronny Paris Sr. in January 2005. The father claimed that his son was “a sissy.” The boy did not appear masculine enough to Paris Sr. He is currently awaiting sentencing.
Another service, held in Chicago, IL, will honor the life of Ka-sha Blue, also known as Antonio Wright. Blue was a hairstylist who lived as a woman and spent years working at a salon in Chicago. Blue was heading to her car after getting off work shortly after 9 p.m. in June 2005, when Michael Major allegedly heckled Blue about her lifestyle and partner. An argument en-sued, and Major pulled a knife, stabbing Blue in the chest. After the stabbing, Major allegedly said, “I got faggot blood on me,” before police arrested him. Major served no sentence for the crime, as the case was dropped for lack of evidence.
These are only two cases of reported transgender/ transgender bias crimes in the United States, but there are hundreds of others.
Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender – that is, as a transsexual, cross dresser, or otherwise gender-variant – each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people.
Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, and most deaths are not reported. The Transgender Day of Remembrance raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform.
On Tuesday, November 14, Women’s Services and Gender Resources in conjunction with the student organization ALSO, will be celebrating the Day of Remembrance in the HUB fire-place lounge at 8 p.m. All are encouraged to come and learn about the differences between transgender, transsexual and transvestite individuals, as well as learn about gender queer and gender identity.