| DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: Seattle 2001 |
| The following is an article that Linda A. Simpson had published in the Seattle Gay News on December 7, 2001 |
| "If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating, but if, God forbid, a man is pictured kissing a woman's breast it gets an X rating. Why is violence more acceptable than tenderness." - Sally Struthers |
| Seattle history made at Day of Remembrance for Transgender victims |
| Solemn Anne |
| A group burns candles in remembrance |
By Linda Anne Simpson
Special to the SGN
Special to the SGN
On Thursday, November 28, Transgender history was made in Seattle as 20 mourners gathered for a candlelight
ceremony in the courtyard of Seattle Central Community College. The event was the National Day of Remembrance
for Transgender Victims of Violence; the mourners were a combination of Transgendered persons and supporters who
came together for this somber event.
The cold windy weather and accompanying rain did not dampen nor deter the ceremony. Pedestrians passing through
the area stopped to listen, pausing in the inclement circumstances to view the signs and listen to the speakers.
The Ingersoll Gender Center, Lesbian Resource Center and The Pacific Gender Institute sponsored the event.
Although this is the third annual national Day of Remembrance for Transgender Victims of Violence, Transgender
history was made with this being the first observance organized in Seattle. This year the observances were organized in
20 cities around the United States.
Dr. Anne Lawrence opened the observance by speaking of the history of The National Day of Remembrance, which
was originally created by Gwen Smith in 1999. Gwen felt that, by forgetting those Transgendered individuals who died
by violent means, we would be doomed to see their deaths repeated. Dr. Lawrence stressed the significance of this first
gathering to take place in Seattle , while highlighting the causes of violence faced by the Transgendered - violence that
too often ends tragically with excessive brutality resulting in the victims' death.
ceremony in the courtyard of Seattle Central Community College. The event was the National Day of Remembrance
for Transgender Victims of Violence; the mourners were a combination of Transgendered persons and supporters who
came together for this somber event.
The cold windy weather and accompanying rain did not dampen nor deter the ceremony. Pedestrians passing through
the area stopped to listen, pausing in the inclement circumstances to view the signs and listen to the speakers.
The Ingersoll Gender Center, Lesbian Resource Center and The Pacific Gender Institute sponsored the event.
Although this is the third annual national Day of Remembrance for Transgender Victims of Violence, Transgender
history was made with this being the first observance organized in Seattle. This year the observances were organized in
20 cities around the United States.
Dr. Anne Lawrence opened the observance by speaking of the history of The National Day of Remembrance, which
was originally created by Gwen Smith in 1999. Gwen felt that, by forgetting those Transgendered individuals who died
by violent means, we would be doomed to see their deaths repeated. Dr. Lawrence stressed the significance of this first
gathering to take place in Seattle , while highlighting the causes of violence faced by the Transgendered - violence that
too often ends tragically with excessive brutality resulting in the victims' death.
| Speaker walking after talking. |
| The main poster |
Dr. Lawrence stated, " It is as though they (the perpetrator) were trying to erase the Transgendered person from the
face of the Earth." Dr. Lawrence emphasized, "We will not be erased, nor will we be silenced. We have always been
here and will always be here."
The brutality of many of the murders cannot be over emphasized by Dr. Lawrence. The victim is not always a
Transgendered individual. With prejudice against Transgendered persons being so violent, those close to a
Transgendered person, or perceived as a Transgendered person, become a target of violence also. Of the cases from
2001, two were representative.
James Jerome Mack was one victim. Mack was not Transgendered but was the lover of a Transgendered woman. On
January 21, 2001, he was beaten with beer bottles, sexually assaulted with a broom handle, strangled with an electrical
cord, and then drowned in a bathtub. His body was then set on fire in a trashcan behind a church.
Willie Houston was not Transgendered but was a victim of anti-Transgendered and anti-Gay hate. On July 29, he was
carrying his wife's purse and assisting a blind male when he was shot and killed for being perceived as transgendered.
Before passing the microphone to Vanessa Grandberry of the People of Color Against Aids Network (POCAAN) and
Jana Ekdahl of the Ingersoll Gender Center, Dr. Lawrence noted that a disproportionate number of the Transgender
Victims of Violence are also people of color and / or are financially impaired.
After touching dialogs given by Vanessa and Jana, members taking part in the observance approached the
microphone one by one and voiced their feelings. Friends, acquaintances and loved ones spoke of sad and sometimes
wrenching accounts. Some spoke of personal violence they had experienced but most spoke for those who could no
longer speak for themselves. Some of the speakers were moved to tears as they recalled the lives of those who paid
the ultimate price of hatred and violence. Many were moved to tears as they listened to the accounts, tears that
blended in an ironic manner with the cold rainy weather.
Christine Landon spoke of Native American beliefs as they related to the Transgendered, noting that in some cultures
the Transgendered are seen as special people; such is not the case in our western culture. Other points mentioned by
some of the mourners cited the media's reluctance to cover Transgendered deaths as part of the problem. Even when
the media does cover a death or violent act committed against a Transgendered person, too often the wrong names and
improper pronouns are used in a mocking manner.
On closing the observance, Dr. Lawrence read the names, accompanied by a short narrative of the circumstances,
surrounding the murder of each victim of Transgendered violence this year. As Dr. Lawrence read the accounts, each
account reflected the same trademark of excessive violence, resulting in death, simply because the victim was
Transgendered. Dr. Lawrence went on to state that this is the first observance of the National Day of Remembrance
for Transgender Victims of Violence in Seattle, but not the last. Dr. Lawrence promised to return every year, to
promote awareness and fight bigotry until it is no longer necessary to do so.
Gwen has promoted awareness not only through the National Day of remembrance but also through a website that
memorializes the victims and provides educational information. The site can be visited at www.gender.org/remember/
[ Linda Simpson is a member of the board of directors of the Ingersoll Gender Center and is a Transgendered woman
herself. The poster in the background of the speakers during the event was drawn by Linda's eight year old daughter,
Allison. Inspired by the posters Linda was making for the observance, Allison was inspired to make a poster of her
own.]
face of the Earth." Dr. Lawrence emphasized, "We will not be erased, nor will we be silenced. We have always been
here and will always be here."
The brutality of many of the murders cannot be over emphasized by Dr. Lawrence. The victim is not always a
Transgendered individual. With prejudice against Transgendered persons being so violent, those close to a
Transgendered person, or perceived as a Transgendered person, become a target of violence also. Of the cases from
2001, two were representative.
James Jerome Mack was one victim. Mack was not Transgendered but was the lover of a Transgendered woman. On
January 21, 2001, he was beaten with beer bottles, sexually assaulted with a broom handle, strangled with an electrical
cord, and then drowned in a bathtub. His body was then set on fire in a trashcan behind a church.
Willie Houston was not Transgendered but was a victim of anti-Transgendered and anti-Gay hate. On July 29, he was
carrying his wife's purse and assisting a blind male when he was shot and killed for being perceived as transgendered.
Before passing the microphone to Vanessa Grandberry of the People of Color Against Aids Network (POCAAN) and
Jana Ekdahl of the Ingersoll Gender Center, Dr. Lawrence noted that a disproportionate number of the Transgender
Victims of Violence are also people of color and / or are financially impaired.
After touching dialogs given by Vanessa and Jana, members taking part in the observance approached the
microphone one by one and voiced their feelings. Friends, acquaintances and loved ones spoke of sad and sometimes
wrenching accounts. Some spoke of personal violence they had experienced but most spoke for those who could no
longer speak for themselves. Some of the speakers were moved to tears as they recalled the lives of those who paid
the ultimate price of hatred and violence. Many were moved to tears as they listened to the accounts, tears that
blended in an ironic manner with the cold rainy weather.
Christine Landon spoke of Native American beliefs as they related to the Transgendered, noting that in some cultures
the Transgendered are seen as special people; such is not the case in our western culture. Other points mentioned by
some of the mourners cited the media's reluctance to cover Transgendered deaths as part of the problem. Even when
the media does cover a death or violent act committed against a Transgendered person, too often the wrong names and
improper pronouns are used in a mocking manner.
On closing the observance, Dr. Lawrence read the names, accompanied by a short narrative of the circumstances,
surrounding the murder of each victim of Transgendered violence this year. As Dr. Lawrence read the accounts, each
account reflected the same trademark of excessive violence, resulting in death, simply because the victim was
Transgendered. Dr. Lawrence went on to state that this is the first observance of the National Day of Remembrance
for Transgender Victims of Violence in Seattle, but not the last. Dr. Lawrence promised to return every year, to
promote awareness and fight bigotry until it is no longer necessary to do so.
Gwen has promoted awareness not only through the National Day of remembrance but also through a website that
memorializes the victims and provides educational information. The site can be visited at www.gender.org/remember/
[ Linda Simpson is a member of the board of directors of the Ingersoll Gender Center and is a Transgendered woman
herself. The poster in the background of the speakers during the event was drawn by Linda's eight year old daughter,
Allison. Inspired by the posters Linda was making for the observance, Allison was inspired to make a poster of her
own.]
| Linda Simpson holding Allisons' poster |