Senate Resolution No. 2811

BY: Senator SQUADRON

RECOGNIZING November 20, 2017, as Transgender Day
of Remembrance

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
grassroots days of action on behalf of justice and human dignity for
all; and

WHEREAS, In honoring the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which
occurs annually on November 20th, this Legislative Body recognizes that
the Transgender Day of Remembrance stands for not only the pursuit of
mutual respect and full equality but also to remember those who have
lost their lives because of their gender identity or expression; and

WHEREAS, We also recognize that transgender members of our society
are disproportionately affected by hate crimes and violence in our
communities; and

WHEREAS, On Transgender Day of Remembrance we pause to remember the
hundreds of transgender people across the nation who are the victims of
hate-motivated violence every year, including bullying, assault, and
homicide; and

WHEREAS, On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we acknowledge that
transgender people suffer a myriad of challenges in their daily lives,
including discrimination, disproportionately high levels of
unemployment, and limited access to health care; and

WHEREAS, Despite the challenges faced by the transgender community,
in observing the Transgender Day of Remembrance, we recognize, admire,
and celebrate the growing awareness and acceptance of transgender people
and the many states that have established full rights for transgender
individuals despite the ongoing struggles faced by the transgender
community across the nation; and

WHEREAS, On Transgender Day of Remembrance we honor and commemorate
the strength, commitment, and remarkable and immense efforts of those
working tirelessly to secure full and equal civil rights for all people
in this country, regardless of gender identity or expression; and

WHEREAS, The Transgender Day of Remembrance provides an opportunity
for all New Yorkers to celebrate the gains that transgender activists
and allies have made in the movement for transgender equality and to
also remember how much work remains to be done; and

WHEREAS, We recognize that the movement for full and equal civil
rights for transgender people is part of broader social struggle for
civil rights in this country; and

WHEREAS, The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a commemoration of
those who have died expressing their gender and a reflection on the
sobering statistics in our state and across the country which
demonstrate that transgender people are still faced with tragically high
levels of violence and discrimination; and


WHEREAS, We recognize that while that national political climate has
become increasingly hostile to transgender Americans, including rolling
back civil rights protections, the state should stand with transgender
New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, We also pause to remember that basic fairness for
transgender people is still, shockingly, denied in many places,
including the State of New York, which has not codified such protections
legislatively; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body also acknowledges and honors
Gwendolyn Ann Smith, who took an important cause and brought it to the
world's attention through the establishment and organization of the
Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1999, which has continued annually
ever since; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize November 20, 2017, as Transgender Day of Remembrance; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the New York State Transgender Rights Coalition.