Proposed Resolution - 11/16/2021
JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 20TH AS
TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IN SALT LAKE
CITY
WHEREAS, in 1998, Rita Hester, a transgender woman of color was murdered in
Allston, Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, the following year, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman, created
the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in honor of Rita Hester and
other transgender people who have lost their lives to violence; and
WHEREAS, Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed annually to memorialize
those lives that have been lost as a result of transphobic violence; and
WHEREAS, deaths from transphobic violence have increased significantly yet again this
year, for a total of 69 victims in the U.S. and 412 victims worldwide as of
November 1; and
WHEREAS, the true number of victims is unknown because of intentional misgendering
and the difficulty identifying the bodies of many victims; and
WHEREAS, transgender individuals — especially transgender people of color — continue
to be disproportionately affected by education discrimination, employment
discrimination, bullying, limited access to healthcare, domestic violence,
homelessness, economic instability, and poverty; and
WHEREAS, the transgender community has been particularly hard-hit by the
continuing effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic; and
WHEREAS, since 2006, Transgender Education Advocates (TEA) of Utah has organized
a vigil in Salt Lake City every year; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City values the lives and contributions to our community by
transgender people; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City has the responsibility to promote equality and prosperity for
all members of the transgender community; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City is proud to stand against the discrimination of transgender
people.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor of Salt Lake City strongly value
the lives and contributions of transgender people; honor those lives that
have been lost as a result of transphobic violence throughout the United
States of America and the world; and formally recognize Saturday,
November 20, 2021, as Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Adopted this _____ day of November 2021
__________________________ ______________________
Erin Mendenhall Amy Fowler, Chair
Salt Lake City Mayor Salt Lake City Council Member, District Seven
__________________________ ________________________
Chris Wharton, Vice Chair Victoria Petro-Eschler
Salt Lake City Council Member, District Three Salt Lake City Council Member, District One
______________________________ ____________________________
Dennis Faris Ana Valdemoros
Salt Lake City Council Member, District Two Salt Lake City Council Member, District Four
__________________________ __________________________
Darin Mano Daniel Dugan
Salt Lake City Council Member, District Five Salt Lake City Council Member, District Six