Biden, lawmakers mark Transgender Day of Remembrance
President Biden and members of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus marked Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday, because the nation reeled from the mass capturing at a LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs that left 5 individuals useless and 25 others wounded.
“There is no such thing as a place for violence, hatred, and bigotry in America. But, tragically, as final evening’s assault in Colorado Springs reminds us, too many LGBTQI+ individuals in the USA—and world wide—proceed to face unconscionable assaults. That is very true for transgender Individuals,” Biden mentioned in an announcement on Thursday.
“On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the 32 transgender Individuals identified to have been taken from us this yr by horrific acts of brutality,” Biden added. “The true toll is probably going a lot larger, with Black and brown transgender girls disproportionately focused.”
In separate statements, Democratic Reps. Marie Newman (Ailing.), Jennifer Wexton (Va.), and Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) — co-chairs of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus’ Transgender Equality Activity Pressure — mentioned they had been introducing a decision to memorialize the lives of these misplaced.
“We’ve got a disaster of violence focusing on transgender individuals in our nation, fueled by rising hate meant to marginalize and villainize the trans neighborhood. It’s unacceptable and we should struggle again,” Wexton mentioned in an announcement.
“At present on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the lives of those that had been killed merely for residing overtly and authentically, together with not less than 32 trans Individuals this yr. Every of us has a duty to talk out—loudly and clearly—that trans rights and trans lives matter.”
Biden additionally mentioned in his assertion that his administration will stay dedicated to strengthening the rights of the LGBTQ neighborhood within the U.S., and spoke out towards anti-LGBTQ legal guidelines being launched and handed on the state stage.
“I proceed to induce state leaders to fight the disturbing wave of discriminatory state legal guidelines focusing on younger transgender Individuals—laws that hurts younger individuals who aren’t hurting anybody,” Biden mentioned.
“With Congress poised to go the bipartisan Respect For Marriage Act, I additionally reiterate my name for them to likewise go the Equality Act and supply lengthy overdue protections to transgender and all LGBTQI+ Individuals.”
Authorities have but to conclude what motivated the capturing in Colorado Springs, nevertheless advocacy teams have pointed to hate speech and anti-LGBTQ legal guidelines as stoking violence towards the neighborhood.
The 22-year-old gunman reportedly opened fireplace inside Membership Q, killing 5 patrons on the membership and wounding 25 others earlier than being restrained by different clubgoers, leading to him being arrested by authorities shortly after.
