Title: Supporting the goals and principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence toward transgender people and memorializing the lives lost this year.
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence toward transgender people and memorializing the lives lost this year.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1488 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1488

 Supporting the goals and principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance 
 by recognizing the epidemic of violence toward transgender people and 
                memorializing the lives lost this year.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 17, 2022

  Ms. Newman (for herself, Ms. Wexton, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. 
   Jacobs of California, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. 
Evans, Ms. Norton, Ms. Meng, Mr. Takano, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New 
 York, Mr. Higgins of New York, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Auchincloss, Ms. Blunt 
  Rochester, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Lynch, Ms. 
 Wild, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Moulton, 
  Ms. Pressley, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Ms. 
Tlaib, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Welch, Mr. Tonko, and Ms. Clark 
    of Massachusetts) submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance 
 by recognizing the epidemic of violence toward transgender people and 
                memorializing the lives lost this year.

Whereas Transgender Day of Remembrance was created following the 1998 killing of 
        Rita Hester, a transgender woman of color, whose murder has yet to be 
        solved;
Whereas, the following year on November 20, 1999, Gwendolyn Ann Smith created 
        the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in honor of Rita Hester and 
        other transgender people whose lives were lost due to violence;
Whereas Transgender Day of Remembrance 2022 honors the memory of the lives of 
        transgender people tragically lost in acts of violence between October 
        1, 2021, and September 30, 2022;
Whereas the United States is currently experiencing an epidemic of violence 
        against transgender Americans;
Whereas at least 36 transgender or gender nonconforming people were violently 
        killed in the United States in 2022, a number many believe to be much 
        higher due to the prevalence of underreporting or misreporting violence 
        against this community;
Whereas the lives of Danyale Johnson, Nikai David, Ke'Yahonna Stone, Za'niyah 
        Williams, Nikki Turietta, Keeva Scatter, Martina Caldera, Semaj 
        Billingslea, Acey Morrison, Mya Allen, Dede Ricks, Maddie Hofmann, Aaron 
        Lynch, Kandii Reed, Hayden Davis, Marisela Castro, Cherry Bush, Keshia 
        Chanel Geter, Martasia Richmond, Kitty Monroe, Shawmayne Giselle Marie, 
        Brazil Johnson, Sasha Mason, Chanelika Y'Ella Dior Hemingway, Nedra 
        Sequence Morris, Ray Muscat, Fern Feather, Ariyanna Mitchell, Miia Love 
        Parker, Kenyatta ``Kesha'' Webster, Kathryn ``Katie'' Newhouse, Tatiana 
        Labelle, Paloma Vazquez, Matthew Angelo Spampinato, Naomie Skinner, 
        Cypress Ramos, Duval Princess, Amariey Lej, Ace Scott, Brent Wood, 
        DeeDee Hall, and Paris Rich were tragically lost in acts of violence 
        between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022;
Whereas the life of Tiffany Banks was tragically lost in an act of violence 
        since October 1, 2022;
Whereas following the introduction of the Transgender Day of Remembrance 
        Resolution of 2021, the lives of Cris Blehar, Rubi Dominguez, and Geri 
        Judd were reported to have been lost to acts of violence between October 
        1, 2020, and September 30, 2021;
Whereas at least 327 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been 
        murdered worldwide in 2022, according to the Trans Murder Monitoring 
        Project;
Whereas violence against transgender Americans disproportionately impacts 
        transgender women of color;
Whereas Black transgender women are the most targeted group to experience 
        violence in the United States;
Whereas the COVID-19 global health pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on 
        transgender Americans;
Whereas transgender Americans face barriers to health care, such as lack of 
        health insurance, stigma and discrimination, and higher rates of 
        unemployment;
Whereas transgender people disproportionately suffer from higher rates of 
        homelessness, with reports suggesting as many as one-third of 
        transgender people and one-half of transgender people who are Black, 
        Middle Eastern, multiracial, or undocumented have experienced 
        homelessness;
Whereas almost half of all transgender people in the United States will attempt 
        suicide at 1 point in their lifetimes, a rate that is 8 times higher 
        than the rest of the United States population;
Whereas asylum seekers and refugees who are transgender experience 
        disproportionate rates of violence, including sexual violence, as they 
        seek safety;
Whereas transgender immigrants have died in American detention centers due to 
        medical neglect, injury, and abuse at the hands of staff;
Whereas transgender people who are housed in institutional settings such as 
        jails and prisons are subject to high levels of violence and 
        discrimination;
Whereas transgender students are significantly more likely to experience 
        bullying or harassment at school due to their gender identity;
Whereas understanding and addressing the challenges faced by transgender 
        Americans is hampered by a severe lack of data;
Whereas Congress and the executive branch must act to protect and preserve the 
        lives of all Americans, including transgender Americans, through 
        inclusive legislation and policies that treat everyone with dignity and 
        respect;
Whereas the continued introduction of antitransgender legislation has fueled 
        violence against transgender Americans;
Whereas the pressure some State legislatures have pushed on State and local 
        authorities to treat gender-affirming health care as child abuse has led 
        to a spike in bullying and assault in schools, and to parents afraid 
        their children will be deprived of medical care or be removed from their 
        homes;
Whereas the transgender community has shown great resilience in the face of 
        adversity in all aspects of their lives, including housing, education, 
        employment, and health care;
Whereas Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Andi Mudryk became the first 
        openly transgender person to be appointed to the bench in the State of 
        California;
Whereas New Hampshire State Representative James Roesener became the first 
        openly transgender man to be elected to State Legislature in the United 
        States;
Whereas Minnesota State Representative Alicia Kozlowski became the first openly 
        nonbinary person to be elected to the Minnesota State Legislature;
Whereas Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr became the first openly 
        transgender woman to be elected to the Montana State Legislature;
Whereas Montana State Representative S.J. Howell became the first openly 
        nonbinary person elected to the Montana State Legislature; and
Whereas the transgender community has demonstrated tremendous leadership since 
        the courageous actions of many community members, including Marsha P. 
        Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, at the Stonewall uprising of 1969: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and principles of Transgender Day of 
        Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence toward 
        transgender people and memorializing the lives lost this year;
            (2) recognizes that the alarming trends of increased 
        violence against transgender Americans, particularly 
        transgender women of color, are unacceptable, and that finding 
        solutions to these issues must be a pressing priority for the 
        United States Government;
            (3) supports efforts to study, respond to, and prevent 
        violence against transgender people;
            (4) affirms the principle that every person is endowed with 
        basic human rights and that our Nation's commitment to this 
        principle must encompass every single individual;
            (5) recognizes the bravery and resilience of the 
        transgender community as it fights for equal dignity and 
        respect; and
            (6) recognizes the multitude of contributions and cultural 
        impact the transgender community has had on American society.
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