By
Celina Kareiva
November 20, 2009
Rita Hester was stabbed to death in her own home on Nov. 28, 1998 because the gender she identified with didn’t align with what society thought she should be presenting. Hester’s killer has yet to be identified.
A year later in San Francisco, a small candlelight vigil spawned the concept behind today’s Trans Day of Remembrance — a day of mourning celebrated nationwide, intended to expose hate crimes against members of the transgender community.
“We want to let the campus know that these hate crimes don’t just affect trans people,” said Anthony Calgari Heimuli, who has helped coordinate campus activities for the event. “We’re still not equal. We may have this equality in marriage for straight people, but our transgender brothers and sisters are still out there.”
Since the San Francisco vigil, 538 murders relating to transgender hate crimes have been documented worldwide, 118 of which occurred within this past year.
Members of the Q Center and various other student groups on campus have arranged for a quiet remembering space in the Q Center’s conference room. A candlelight vigil will also be held at 6 p.m. tonight at Montlake and Pacific in front of the UW entrance. Candles will be distributed and each victim’s name will be read off.
“Unlike sexism that is aimed at half the world, or racism or other forms of bigotry that directly affect large, visible populations, hatred of trans people could easily go unnoticed and ignored,” said Chloe (who wished to have her full name withheld), a member of the Q Center on campus. “And it means so much that a larger community stands up against that and says, ‘Even though you’re just a few compared to all of us, we see your pain and won’t tolerate this disease of hatred.’”
After the ceremonious reading of names, community members are welcomed to share poems, prayers and stories.
Trans Day of Remembrance is more than a time of mourning or acknowledgment, Heimuli said. Members and allies of the LGBT community hope to engage people in a discussion about gender and the reverberating effects that a single hate crime can have.
There’s often a misunderstanding even within the LGBT community. Heimuli, for instance, attended a Catholic school for much of his life, and while he knew what transgender meant, he assumed that anyone who was transitioning between genders was striving for this fixed American dream.
Simple issues that are often taken for granted by some, like finding gender-neutral bathrooms or registering as a student can be difficult and sensitive topics for trans people.
“I’m a transperson. I’m small and slow. There were times and places in my life where my personal safety was a daily worry,” UW junior Mickey Balderas said. “I am very, very lucky to no longer be in those situations, but worry about my safety still comes up occasionally.”
Tonight’s vigil will be happening in unison with many other campuses and cities nationwide. The Q Center invites everyone to attend regardless of gender identity.
Reach reporter Celina Kareiva at news@dailyuw.com.
12 Comments
#1 What equality
on November 20, 2009 at 11:17 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Ok, so how does the victim of a hate crime matter more than that of a regular crime. Do the families not hurt as much, is the crime not as severe?
The whole hate crime laws are stupid. It should not matter why someone killed another person, they should be punished the same no matter the reason.
Why do we bother getting inside the heads of these sick individuals to diferentiate the motives. A murder is a murder no matter the motivation behind it.
Minorities, homosexuals, etc all want equality ( as they should) but in instances like this, they are treated as "SPECIAL CASES". Everyone should be treated the same under the law.
If a minority is killed, hate is always the first motive that comes up and has a way of tainting public opinion of the case. If hate crime designations were abolished, then maybe we can move past this separation.
Separate but equal is so 1890. Lets finally move past it.
#2 jennifer self
on November 20, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
In response to the first comment...today's event is not about hate crimes legislation or legislation at all. It is about grieving the loss of and celebrating the lives of our transgender friends and family members who have been murdered in the last year. All of these individuals were killed as a result of gendered, racialized, classed (etc.) violence. You are right...a crime is a crime, but when you are a person who transgresses what is considered "normal" gender expression or gender identity or gender constructions, well then, you are at a much greater risk for murder. Today we recognize and grieve that that is still a reality. Today we bring visibility to that reality. And we ask you, who may be cisgendered or gender conforming, to join with us in decrying the violence targeting those who experience the world through a more fluid gendered lens.
Legislation or no legislation...that isn't the point. The point is: let's stop killing each other.
#3 Chloe Adeline
on November 20, 2009 at 12:49 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
My name is Chloe Adeline; I never asked for my name to be withheld <3
#4 Anus Chomp
on November 20, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
WTF Chole?
#5 PC is poop
on November 20, 2009 at 1:59 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
All I say is transgenders are no more special then anyone else, get over yourselves.
#6 Sean W.
on November 20, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.(UW Campus | UW Community)
http://chicagoist.com/2009/11/20/toda...
#7 Sean W.
on November 20, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.(UW Campus | UW Community)
As the link I posted above demonstrated, hate crimes law is necessary because without the extra enforcement, a lot of the violence will simply go unnoticed or brushed off, even by the police forces.
#8 Nick
on November 20, 2009 at 3:29 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
I don't see where, in that article, it demonstrates that hate crimes laws are necessary. The man's expected plea is ludicrous, but it says nothing about a lack of investigation by police or a lack of understanding by the judicial system.
If anything, due to the exceptionally violent mutilation, the police would be more inclined to pay extra attention to the case, rather than "brush it off".
Merely because the crimes are unsolved DOES NOT mean they aren't investigated to the greatest extent. Think about the nature of these crimes - the one in the focus of the article involves a man, with no previous connection to the victim, soliciting sex from the victim, finding the victim transgender, and then killing him in a fit of rage.
I would be interested to see how they found the man - think how hard it would be to figure a case like that. It's perfect conditions for a cold case.
So, I don't see how that article demonstrated anything you say it did.
#9 Its life, get used to it
on November 20, 2009 at 3:53 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
The very idea of special attention given to hate crimes means that extra resources would be taken away from other murder cases, how is that for equality.
Law enforcement does the very best that they can on every case, but if it is a hate crime they have to give it special attention. That is crap. Treat them all equal.
I am sorry, but I am sick of all these special groups of people being put on a pedestal just because they are different and we are supposed to feel bad for them, but we are not supposed to see that they are different, IT IS KIND OF HARD NOT TO SEE SOMEONE SITTING ON A PEDESTAL aboue my head.
#10 Rebecca_F
on November 20, 2009 at 4:27 p.m.(Denver, CO)
#4 See par. 6 & next time why don't you read the article before you start swearing at people?
#11 Nick
on November 20, 2009 at 7:50 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name | UW Community)
'It's life...', you've got it a bit twisted.
We aren't "not supposed to see that they are different". That is neither possible nor is it what they want. Embracing diversity and celebrating difference is what this movement is about, and not homogenization or pity.
But, I see several issues with hate crime legislation, and I do not believe it embodies these core values.
First, by defining crimes between groups, rather than as a single person against society as a whole, you not only reinforce the notion of separation and conflict, but you further ignite hostility.
Second, why is there a difference between, for example, 'regular' murder and 'hate crime' murder? Consider person A from group 1, person B from group 2, and person C, also from group 1.
A murders C, because he hates him. Since they are from the same group, group 1, it's treated as 'regular' murder and the sentence is 30 years.
A murders B, because he hates him. Since it's a member of group 1 killing a member of group 2, this is a hate crime, and the sentence is life in prison or the death penalty.
Why does the murder of B command a greater punishment, attention, what have you, than the murder of C? Both were murdered because A hated them. Wouldn't both be hate crimes?
I really just don't understand. I understand that these groups are often targeted because they are seen as inferior or disgusting by some terrible people. I believe that it's important to teach people to embrace diversity and be understanding, and to reject senseless hate, because come on, we are all people here.
Think about a lot of crimes - many are committed out of some form of hate. By defining the terms of punishment and treatment on racial and social lines, you only reinforce the fact that different groups should be treated differently.
#12 Monica T.
on November 20, 2009 at 9:40 p.m.(Location Unknown | UW Community)
I've posted a blog about why I think today's demonstration in Red Square was ineffective. I am totally open to conversation about it.
http://janeofearth.blogspot.com/2009/...
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