Dallas Voice: Event marks Day of Remembrance, raises awareness

FROM THE DALLAS VOICE:

By Ben Briscoe Staff Writer
Nov 26, 2008 - 7:58:05 PM

More than 60 people gathered on the coldest night of the year to remember.

They stood in the harsh wind, guarding the flames of their candles as the loudspeakers boomed the stories of 30 transgender people killed in hate crimes this year.

“I am Samantha Rangel Brandau from Milan, Italy. I was beaten, gang-raped and stabbed numerous times before being left for dead at the age of 30.”

The event on Southern Methodist University’s campus Nov. 20 was part of the 10th annual National Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Remembering Our Dead Web Project estimates that two people a month, on average, are killed in violence against transgender people.

“Tonight we are here to pay homage to strangers, perhaps showing more love to them than they ever received in life,” featured speaker and LGBT counselor Felishia Porter said. “We did not know them, yet we have taken time out of our lives to pause and remember.”

In addition to honoring the dead, the event was intended to raise awareness of gender identity hate crimes.

“It’s important to me that we as a large community don’t forget,” organizer Beth Richard said. “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Well, repeating those kinds of pasts is something I don’t want to see ever again.”

Porter agreed.

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