P R E S S   R E L E A SE

Contact:
Linda DeMarco, President
Boston Pride
info@bostonpride.org

BOSTON PRIDE SPONSORS TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE 2009

Boston, MA, November 17, 2009 - Boston Pride is proud to support the Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR), on Friday November 20th, 2009, and encourages everyone to attend this important community event.

The Boston 2009 TDOR Observance will be held 7-9:30pm at St. Luke's & St. Margaret's in Allston.

[more info]

###

Full Event Press Release

Contact: Nancy Nangeroni, 978-969-2346, nancy@gendertalk.com, www.masstpc.org/dor

Community Speak-Out, Vigil on Friday, Nov 20 in Allston Each November 20, the worldwide transgender community turns its attention to its family, friends and loved ones lost to violence. A tradition inspired by the Allston vigil for slain transsexual Rita Hester in 1998, this day has become the worldwide rallying point for a community long under siege.

Here in Boston, the gathering site will once again be Allston's St. Luke's & St. Margaret's church. Organizers expect a capacity audience once again this year for the annual event that combines an inspiring program of speakers, heartfelt community speakout, and moving candlelight vigil that will again retrace much of the path taken by the 1998 vigil.

The non-worship, non-denominational, free program begins at 7pm and concludes, after the candlelight vigil, with a reception featuring hot drinks and home-baked snacks. For the latest details, please visit www.masstpc.org/dor.

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.

This event will benefit the Transgender Emergency Fund, which provides assistance to low-income transgender people. Event sponsors include the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, the Boston Alliance of GLBT Youth, TransCEND, Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Bay Windows, Tiffany Club of New England, Congregation Am Tikva, Fenway Community Health Center, AIDS Action Committee, The Network La Red, and Boston Pride.

Event Background:

Eleven 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.

Boston’s Transgender Day of Remembrance observance is organized by an all-volunteer committee.

###