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WHEREAS, transgender people come from all walks of life and make up a part of a diverse community, representing all racial, ethnic, religious, and class backgrounds; and,
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WHEREAS, transgender individuals around the world, in the United States, and Pittsburgh are exposed to widespread social stigma, discrimination, harassment, and physical and sexual abuse; and,
WHEREAS, Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999 as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998, and to raise awareness of hate crimes against trans people; and,
WHEREAS, over the last three years, at least 1,022 global transgender deaths by violence have been recorded, with the majority of victims being trans women or transfeminine people of color; and with almost half of the known occupations of the victims being sex workers; and,
WHERAS, in the Pittsburgh area, murder cases of Black Trans women remain unsolved, including the murders of Amariey Lei, Elisha Stanley, Aliyah Johnson, and Angel Naira; and,
WHEREAS, transwomen of color are exposed to discrimination and violence at a higher rate which can cause their murders to go unreported and misreported; and,
WHEREAS, those deaths that have gone unreported are still a matter of urgency that deserve our attention and intention towards justice; and,
WHEREAS, November 20th is observed to be Transgender Day of Remembrance, also known as International Transgender Day of Remembrance; a day that honors the legacy of our trans siblings and what we must do to protect those who are still here with us today; and,
WHEREAS, in September of 2023, Pittsburgh City Council passed legislation to bolster protections that make Pittsburgh a sanctuary city for recipients and providers of gender-affirming care; and,
WHEREAS, the QMNTY Center, a mixed-use TLGBQ+ support and resource space operated by TransYOUniting and Proud Haven opened on December 1st, 2022, with the goal of giving the local trans and queer community a place where they could find everything they need, especially those who don’t have stable housing or jobs; and,
WHEREAS, on November 20th, 2023, TransYouniting and Proud Haven are hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance observance at the QMNTY Center to pay respect to our trans siblings who we have lost to senseless violence and corrupt systems and people; and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby remember and honor those whose lives were lost to hate crimes, transphobic violence and discrimination and reaffirms our commitment to fight transphobia and promote understanding and acceptance of transgender individuals.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh declares November 20th, 2023, “Transgender Day of Remembrance” here in the City of Pittsburgh.