Transgender Day Of Remembrance Is November 20

Equality Florida is sponsoring the second annual Key West observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Friday, November 20.

Preceded by a prosecco reception at 6:00 pm, a screening of the film SOLDIER’S GIRL will be held at the Tropic Cinema at 6:30 pm on Friday, November 20. SOLDIER’S GIRL is based on a true story about a soldier who falls in love with a transgender nightclub performer and the consequences their love has for all. This film’s message is pertinent today as transgender people are victims of violence and rampant discrimination. Rottentomatoes.com critics had 83% good reviews and audiences gave it 87%. The movie is rated R. There will be a short discussion after the movie.

There is no charge to attend this event, but seats must be reserved by contacting Evie Evers Kling at [email protected].

At 8:45 pm, there will be a candlelight vigil in front of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at the corner of Eaton and Duval. The public is invited to attend the vigil where the names of transgender people from around the world who have been reported murdered will be remembered and the value of their lives will be witnessed by those in attendance. This vigil is open to the public and no reservations are needed.

Following the vigil, there will be a “CELEBRATION OF AUTHENTICITY”.

In 1998, The Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded by graphic designer, columnist and activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman. This was her way of memorializing Rita Hester, a murder victim in Allston, Massachusetts. The Transgender Day of Remembrance has been held in more than 185 cities in more than 20 countries around the world. (source: Wikipedia)

According to respondents to the National Transgender Discrimination survey, conducted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality, the rate of suicide attempts by transgender adults is 41%. This vastly exceeds the rate of 4.6% for adult suicide attempts in the overall US population. (source: the executive summary of a study by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and The Williams Institute)

Roxanne Ellis chairs the Equality Florida Planning Committee for the Transgender Day of Remembrance and invites the entire community to attend. “It is important that the awareness brought about by Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner be further embraced by the general public to evolve into acceptance of the transgender community,” Ellis stated.

Equality Florida’s Transgender Inclusion Director Gina Duncan will be traveling around the state of Florida to various observances of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

For more information and to reserve a space for the film, contact Evie Evers Kling at [email protected].

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