Rep. Susie Lee Commemorates Transgender Day of Remembrance
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) released the following statement commemorating Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed each year on Nov. 20th to honor the memory of the transgender people who lost their lives in acts of anti-transgender violence:
"Just last year, at least 26 transgender Americans were killed because of who they are, and this year is proving to be just as deadly. It's unacceptable and un-American that a person's status as transgender or non-binary puts them at risk of discrimination or violence at home, work, or in the community. We can and will pass legislation to improve protections for LGBTQ+ Americans like the Equality Act and block discriminatory policies like the administration's transgender military ban.
"But the fight for true equality goes beyond Washington. It is every Americans' duty to stand up against the culture of violence that suffocates transgender Americans and the greater LGBTQ+ community. We need to take it upon ourselves to create a more inclusive, compassionate society where no person needs to fear for their life because of who they are or who they love."
Rep. Lee cosponsored a House Resolution, led by Rep. Joe Kennedy III (Mass.-04), commemorating the 2019 Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Below is the language of the House Resolution Commemorating the 2019 Transgender Day of Remembrance:
Supporting the goals of Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Whereas an estimated 1.4 million American adults are transgender;
Whereas transgender people have contributed much to American society but continue to face severe discrimination and violence;
Whereas in 1998 Rita Hester, a transgender woman of color was murdered, and her murder has yet to be solved;
Whereas the following year on November 20, 1999, Gwendolyn Ann Smith created the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in honor of Rita Hester and other transgender people who had lost their lives to violence, and this date has been commemorated ever since;
Whereas the United States is currently witnessing an epidemic of violence against transgender people, in particular transgender women of color, with at least 28 members of this community known to have been killed in 2018 and at least 22 killed thus far in 2019;
Whereas the United States has one of the highest rates of murder of transgender people;
Whereas young black transgender women have a far greater chance of being murdered as compared to the general public;
Whereas reports of violence and killings of transgender people are likely to be significantly undercounted due to a variety of factors including the misgendering of victims and fear of reporting;
Whereas transgender people suffer from disproportionate rates of homelessness, with reports suggesting as many as one-third of transgender people have experienced homelessness;
Whereas 19% of all transgender people report being refused medical care, with even higher rates for transgender people of color;
Whereas almost half of all transgender people in the United States will attempt suicide at one point in their lifetime, a rate that is eight times higher than the rest of the United States population;
Whereas around the world, transgender people face violence and discrimination based on their gender identity and expression, which is further exacerbated for transgender people of color, transgender people from a low socioeconomic status, transgender people with disabilities, or transgender people who belong to other marginalized groups;
Whereas asylum-seekers and refugees that identify as transgender experience disproportionate rates of violence, including sexual violence, as they seek safety;
Whereas transgender people who are housed in institutional settings including jails, prisons and immigration detention centers, are subject to high levels of violence and discrimination;
Whereas transgender students are significantly more likely to experience bullying or harassment at school due to their gender identity;
Whereas transgender Americans face rates of unemployment that are far greater than the general population;
Whereas understanding and addressing the challenges faced by transgender Americans is hampered by a severe lack of data;
Whereas Congress and the Executive Branch must act to protect and preserve the lives of all Americans, including transgender Americans, through inclusive legislation and policies that treat everyone with respect;
Whereas recent regulations and other actions by the Executive Branch have directly targeted transgender Americans in all aspects of their lives, from their experiences in schools and healthcare settings, to their ability to continue to serve in the military, to seek redress for workplace discrimination, or to even seek emergency shelter;
Whereas the transgender community has shown great resilience in the face of adversity in all aspects of their lives including housing, education, employment, and healthcare;
Whereas the transgender community has demonstrated tremendous leadership since the courageous actions of many community members, including Marsha P. Johnson, at the Stonewall uprising of 1969;
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes and supports the goals and principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance of memorializing the lives lost this year to anti-transgender violence;
(2) recognizes that the current trends of increased violence, particularly violence against transgender women of color, is unacceptable and finding solutions to these issues must be a pressing priority for the United States government;
(3) supports efforts to study, respond to, and prevent violence against transgender people including through enhanced, responsible data collection.
(4) affirms the principle that every person is endowed with basic human rights and that our nation's commitment to this principle must encompass every single individual;
(5) recognizes the bravery and resilience of the transgender community as it fights for equal dignity and respect.
BACKGROUND: In March, Rep. Lee voted to reject the administration's transgender military ban. The resolution passed the House, but Rep. Lee and her colleagues are still fighting against the implementation of the ban.
In May, Rep. Lee helped pass the Equality Act in the House of Representatives, which would finally give the LGBTQ+ community federal protections against discrimination in employment, housing, and other core aspects of life. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has yet to bring the Equality Act to a vote in the Senate.
On Oct. 11, Rep. Lee sent a letter to the National Archives and Records Administration urging them to include LGBTQ+ milestones in the "Records of Rights" exhibit at the National Archives in our nation's capital. The "Records of Rights" exhibit encapsulates the deep history of the fight for civil rights for women, immigrants, and African Americans, yet lacks any physical exhibit dedicated to the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality. For many Americans, this is the first opportunity to learn about LGBTQ+ history, as many schools do not include it in their curricula, and those that do have only recently begun to do so.
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