St. Petersburg | For the first time ever, the City of St. Petersburg will officially Transgender Day of Remembrance. A ceremony, sponsored by Trans*Action Florida, will be held on the steps of City Hall on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 20.
“This is a huge step and an impressive step for the city,” said Michael Keefe, executive director of Trans*Action Florida. “It truly shows how supportive the city has become regarding transgender issues and embracing all forms of diversity.”
St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornell is scheduled to speak to the crowd from the steps and recognize the need for laws to combat violence against transgender people. The day is recognized internationally and is set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The memorial is held each November in honor of Rita Hester, who was murdered in 1998 and remembered during a candlelight vigil in San Francisco the following year.
More coverage of the event will be posted online at WatermarkOnline.com.
