A 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.

Bill: 118-sres-901
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2024-11-20
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Latest action: action_date: 2024-11-20
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S6688)

Summaries:

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 901 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 20, 2024 Ms. Hirono (for herself, Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Booker , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Fetterman , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Markey , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Schatz , Ms. Warren , Mr. Welch , and Mr. Wyden ) 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 2024 honors the memory of the lives of transgender people tragically lost in acts of violence between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024; Whereas the United States is currently experiencing an epidemic of violence against transgender people of the United States; Whereas at least 38 transgender or gender nonconforming people were violently killed in the United States between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, a number many believe to be much higher due to the prevalence of underreporting or misreporting violence against this community; Whereas the lives of Chyna Long, A’nee Johnson, Lisa Love Turman, Dominic Dupree (Dominic Palace), London Price, Amiri Reid, Kejuan Richardson, Jean Butchart, Savannah Ryan Williams, Meghan Riley Lewis, Amber Minor, Kitty Monroe (Marcos Lugo), Righteous TK Chevy Hill, Diamond Brigman, Alex Franco, Meraxes Medina, Africa ( Emma ) Parrilla Garcia, Tee Arnold ( Lagend Billions ), Nevaeh River Goddard, Adrea Doria Dos Passos, Sasha Williams, Starr Brown, Kita Bee, Reyna Hernandez, Brandon Tayy Dior Thomas, Michelle Henry, Yella (Robert) Clark Jr., Jazlynn Johnson, Liara Tsai, Pauly Likens, Shannon Boswell, Kenji Spurgeon, Monique Brooks, Dylan Gurley, Tai’Von Lathan, Vanity Williams, Redd (Barbie), and Kassim Omar were tragically lost in acts of violence between October 1 2023, and September 30, 2024; Whereas following the introduction of the Transgender Day of Remembrance Resolution of 2023, the lives of LaKendra Andrews and Skyler Gilmore were reported to have been lost to acts of violence between October 1, 2020, and September 30, 2023; Whereas at least 327 transgender or gender nonconforming people have been murdered worldwide between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, according to the Transgender Day of Remembrance memorial page from Trans Lives Matter; Whereas non-fatal anti-transgender violence can still have lethal impacts, such as in the suicide of 16-year-old Nex Benedict in Oklahoma, who took their own life following months of school based bullying and a physical attack in their school restroom; Whereas violence against transgender people of the United States disproportionately impacts transgender women of color; Whereas Black transgender women are the most targeted group to experience violence in the United States; Whereas transgender people of the United States face barriers to health care, such as lack of health insurance, stigma and discrimination, higher rates of unemployment, and, in an increasingly higher number of States, legal barriers to accessing medical care; Whereas transgender people disproportionately suffer from higher rates of homelessness, with reports suggesting as many as 1/3 of transgender women and 1/2 of transgender women who are Black, Middle Eastern, multiracial, or undocumented have ever experienced homelessness; Whereas almost 1/2 of all transgender people in the United States will attempt suicide at least once, and over 1 in 20 will attempt suicide each year, a rate that is almost 10 times higher than the rest of the United States population; Whereas over 1/2 of all transgender youth in the United States have considered attempting suicide at least once in the last year and over a quarter have attempted suicide, almost 2.5 times that of United States youth as a whole; 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 detention centers in the United States 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 people of the United States is hampered by a severe lack of data; Whereas Congress and the executive branch must act to protect and preserve the lives of all people of the United States, including transgender people, through inclusive legislation and policies that treat everyone with dignity and respect; Whereas the continued introduction of anti-transgender legislation has fueled violence against transgender people of the United States; Whereas efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare has stripped many transgender people of access to medically-necessary care, led to a spike in poor mental health and suicidality among transgender youth and adults, increased bullying and assault in schools, and left parents afraid their children may be removed from their homes because they support their transgender child; 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; 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

That the Senate— (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 people of the United States, 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 the commitment of the United States 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 the society of the United States.