Bill Text: VA HJR141 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Transgender Day of Remembrance; designating as November 20, 2018, & each succeeding year thereafter.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-13 - Left in Rules [HJR141 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HJR141-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, throughout the Commonwealth and the United States, transgender people face bigotry and discrimination in the course of their everyday lives; and
WHEREAS, a significant number of people in the transgender community have reported being victims of verbal harassment, sexual harassment, or physical assault, including many who have reported harassment or attacks in the workplace; and
WHEREAS, in 2016 and 2017, at least 55 transgender people were killed as a result of violence, including India Monroe of Newport News on December 21, 2016, and Ebony Morgan of Lynchburg on July 2, 2017; and
WHEREAS, in 1999, Gwendolyn Ann Smith organized the first Transgender Day of Remembrance to commemorate the unsolved murder of Rita Hester, a transgender African American woman who was killed in November of the previous year; and
WHEREAS, all Virginians are encouraged to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance by holding or attending vigils, town-hall-style meetings, exhibitions of artwork and photography, and other activities; and
WHEREAS, Transgender Day of Remembrance raises much-needed awareness of hate crimes against the transgender community and provides a day to mourn and honor victims by expressing love and respect for all people in the face of hatred; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate November 20, in 2018 and in each succeeding year, as Transgender Day of Remembrance in Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to Gwendolyn Ann Smith, founder of Transgender Day of Remembrance, so that the members and supporters of the transgender community may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it
RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website.
