For Immediate Release
Kristina Wertz, Legal Director, Transgender Law Center
415.865.0135 kristina@transgenderlawcenter.org
Ali Bay, Communications Manager, Equality California
916.284.9187 ali@eqca.org
Calla Devlin, Communications Director, NCLR
415.392.6257 x324 cdevlin@nclrights.org
Jovida Ross, Executive Director, Community United Against Violence
415.777.5500 x310 jovida@cuav.org
LGBT Organizations Mourn the Loss of Transgender Victims of Violence
10th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Recognized Throughout California
SAN FRANCISCO - Community
United Against Violence, Equality California, National Center for
Lesbian Rights, and the Transgender Law Center mourn the loss of our
brothers and sisters on the 10th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.
This
year, we remember the tragic deaths of Ruby Moreno, Lawrence King, and
so many others in our communities who have lost their lives to violence
and abuse. Ruby Moreno, a 22 year-old transgender woman, was killed
this September, and found floating in the American River near
Sacramento, CA. Lawrence King, a 14 year-old gay student who often wore
make-up, jewelry and feminine clothing, was shot and killed at school
by a classmate in Oxnard, CA. Ruby and Lawrence are painful reminders
that violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people is a
persistent, everyday reality for many in California. From 1970 to the
present, California has had 55 documented murders of transgender
people, the highest number in the country. These numbers do not begin
to reflect the systematic discrimination and targeting that transgender
and gender non-conforming people-particularly those who are also
low-income, people of color, and immigrants-face in their daily
attempts to access basic safe housing, employment, education, and
public benefits.
"We
receive calls every month from transgender people who have been victims
of hate-motivated violence," said Masen Davis, Executive Director at
the Transgender Law Center. "On the Day of Remembrance, we reflect on
the effects of violence on our lives and look to the hope and strength
of our community. We remember Ruby and Lawrence and work even harder
for transgender civil rights in their names."
"As
we mourn our transgender brothers and sisters who lost their lives to
senseless acts of violence, we also honor those who live their lives
with courage and integrity, often against great odds," said Geoff Kors,
Executive Director of Equality California. "On this day of remembrance,
we redouble our commitment to ending violence, injustice and
discrimination everywhere that targets the transgender community."
"Today,
NCLR stands in solemn solidarity with our transgender brothers and
sisters," says Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center
for Lesbian Rights. "The deaths of Ruby and Lawrence are unthinkable
tragedies and as we mourn their passing, we stand committed to honoring
their legacy by continuing to fight for full dignity, respect, and
equality for all LGBT people."
"CUAV
recognizes that we must confront the devastating cycles of poverty,
illness, and criminalization that leave transgender communities-in
particular low-income transgender women of color-vulnerable to such
high rates of and abuse," said Jovida Ross, Executive Director of
Community United Against Violence. "As we honor those we have lost, we
must rededicate ourselves to the task of building safe, powerful
communities in which we all can thrive."
Locally organized events are taking place all over California today, November 20, through Saturday, November 22.
Fresno
Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 PM
Planned Parenthood
Mar Monte
633 N. Van Ness, Fresno, CA
Sacramento
Saturday, November 22th at 6:30 PM
A Church For All
721 North B Street, Sacramento, CA
San Diego
Thursday, November 20 at 6:00 PM
3909 Centre Street, San Diego, CA
San Francisco
Thursday, November 20that 6:00 PM
TRANS:THRIVE
815 Hyde Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA
Friday, November 21st at 7:30 PM
Congregation Sha'ar Zahav
290 Dolores Street, San Francisco, CA
San Jose
Thursday, November 20th at 7:30 PM
The Billy DeFrank Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center
938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA
Santa Barbara
Thursday November 20th at 6:00 PM
Corner of Anapamu and Anacapa Streets, Santa Barbara, CA
Watsonville
Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 PM
Watsonville City Plaza, Watsonville CA
West Hollywood
Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 PM
Plummer Park's Fiesta Hall
7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
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The Transgender Law Center is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities through direct legal services, education, community organizing, and policy and media advocacy. www.transgenderlawcenter.org
Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. www.eqca.org
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. www.nclrights.org
Community United Against Violence (CUAV) works to end violence against and within gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities through peer-based counseling, emergency crisis intervention, education and outreach, grassroots organizing, and policy advocacy. www.cuav.org