November 16, 2011, New York, NY - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today urged media outlets to share the stories of those lost to anti-transgender violence in observance of the 13th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), set to take place on Sunday, November 20. GLAAD has also created a resource kit for journalists with a guide to terminology and information about anti-transgender violence, available here: www.glaad.org/publications/tdorkit.
"Transgender Americans continue to face staggering rates of violence and harassment — simply because of who they are," said Acting GLAAD President Mike Thompson. "We hope that our community, as well as members of the media, will shine a light on the pervasive violence that transgender people face as well as use this day to remember the humanity that we all share."
This week, GLAAD is also featuring the stories of leading transgender advocates and celebrities at www.glaad.org/tags/transgender-day-remembrance. Among the notables contributing to GLAAD's TDOR blog series: actress Laverne Cox, People.com editor Janet Mock, advocate DeeDee Chamblee, advocate Ja'briel Walthour, athlete and advocate Chris Mosier, and advocate Stephanie Battaglino, among others.
GLAAD is also proudly sponsoring a number of vigils throughout the country. The Gender Identity Project and the New York Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center will host a vigil in New York City on Friday, November 18 in memoriam of the lives lost to anti-transgender violence ( www.glaad.org/events/tdor2011nyc&; . The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center will host a similar vigil on Sunday, November 20 in West Hollywood, Calif ( http://www.glaad.org/events/tdor2011weho).
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was first observed following the 1998 murder of 34-year-old African American transgender woman and advocate, Rita Hester. To this day, Hester's killer(s) has not been found.
Read this press release on our website
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About GLAAD: The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.
