Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil hosted by the Mad City Sisters

Type: Social

This Event:

*LGBTQ hosted

*Has LGBT content

*May be of interest to the LGBTQ community

This vigil will take place at 8 PM on November 18th,  at the intersection of Mifflin & Carroll St in Madison, WI.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors the memory of those murdered in acts of anti-transgender violence, is recognized annually. Local observances may vary, so be sure to check with a local transgender organization, LGBT Center, Gay-Straight Alliance or other support group likely to be participating. For more information about the Transgender Day of Remembrance, visit www.glaad.org/tdor.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed in late November in recognition of the 1998 murder of Rita Hester. Rita was a highly visible member of the transgender community in her native Boston, where she worked locally on education around transgender issues. On Saturday, Nov 28, Rita was stabbed 20 times in her apartment. A neighbor called the police, and Rita was rushed to the hospital. She passed away from cardiac arrest only moments after being admitted. Thirteen years later, police have still not found Rita’s murderer (or murderers).
In 1999, one year after Rita’s murder, advocate and writer Gwendolyn Ann Smith coordinated a vigil in Rita’s honor. The vigil commemorated not only Rita, but all who were tragically lost to anti-transgender violence.