Transgender Day of Remembrance, Thursday Nov 20, 2008

When: Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 7p - 9p
What: Boston to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance; Community Speak-Out, Vigil in 10th anniversary observance
Where: at St. Luke's & St. Margaret's Church, 5 Saint Lukes Rd, Allston, MA - Off Brighton Ave near Packard's Corner stop on the Green line - B train

For the latest details, please visit www.masstpc.org/dor.

All are welcome at Boston's Transgender Day of Remembrance observance at Allston's St. Luke's & St. Margaret's church, where a non-worship, non-denominational program begins at 7pm and concludes, after the candlelight vigil, with a reception featuring hot drinks and home-baked snacks.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the community gathering and candlelight vigil for slain transsexual Rita Hester. A program of speakers, featuring ASC's Rev. Kim Crawford-Harvie, will be followed by a community speakout, after which a candlelight vigil will retrace the path taken by the vigil that inspired what has become an international event.

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.

Event Background:

Ten 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 Allston 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 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.

Co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, BAGLY (Boston Alliance of GLBT Youth), JRI Health - Boston GLASS/UYI, TransCEND (Transgender Care & Education Needs Diversity), Keshet, Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality, St. Luke's & St. Margaret's Church, GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders), Fenway Community Health, MassEquality.