CHICAGO, Ill. — Nov. 4, 2021 — Today, the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed Commissioner Kevin Morrison's resolution honoring and recognizing Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Transgender Awareness Week (Nov. 13 — 19) is intended to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues facing members of the community. Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20) honors the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence and bigotry.
"Transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people face extreme institutional discrimination and violence," said Commissioner Morrison, the first openly LGBTQ Cook County commissioner. "At a time when legislators across the country are actively attacking transgender people and youth, Cook County remains committed to celebrating and protecting the transgender community, uplifting transgender voices, and remembering those who tragically and senselessly lost their lives in acts of hate and violence."
The resolution can be found here.
This year, there have been four known fatal shootings of transgender people in Cook County, though these stories are often unreported, underreported or misreported. Across the country, 44 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been fatally shot or violently killed since Jan. 1, 2021.
Those who have lost their lives in Cook County are:
Tyianna Alexander, also known as Davarea Alexander, a 28-year-old Black transgender woman who was fatally shot in Chicago on Jan. 6, 2021.
Tiara Banks, a 24-year-old Black transgender woman who was fatally shot in Chicago on April 21, 2021.
Disaya Monaee, a 32-year-old Black transgender woman who was fatally shot in Dolton on Sept. 6.
Briana Hamilton¯ a 25-year-old Black transgender woman who was fatally shot in Chicago on Sept. 17.
"Brave Space Alliance applauds the leadership of Commissioner Kevin Morrison and the Cook County Board of Commissioners for continuing to work to make Cook County one of the most affirming places in the country for trans individuals to live, work, and thrive," said Stephanie Skora, Brave Space Alliance associate executive director. "We are proud to continue working with our partners in Cook County to mitigate the violence, discrimination, and hatred that our community unfortunately continues to face on a daily basis, and give our community the tools that we need to lead our lives with dignity, and with the goal of liberation always at the forefront of our minds, and our work."
In June, the Cook County Board unanimously passed Commissioner Morrison's Gender Inclusive Documents and Forms Ordinance. The ordinance requires Cook County to include gender inclusive options on its documents and forms.
