PHILADELPHIA – Today, Office of LGBT Affairs Director, Amber Hikes, released the following statement in recognition of the 2017 Transgender Day of Remembrance:

“Today, in observance of the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, the City of Philadelphia is flying the transgender flag at half-mast at City Hall. With this flag, we honor the memory of the transgender individuals whose lives were lost to acts of anti-transgender violence this year. We know of at least 25 trans people who were killed in the US this year, and the majority of these lost community members were transgender women of color.”

“As a city and a community, we must continue to center the needs of our most vulnerable and raise awareness of the high incidence of anti-transgender violence if we’re ever going to eradicate transphobia.  We recognize the sacrifices of those who came before us and commit to lifting up the transgender women of color who are with us today.

“We invite everyone to attend the Not One More Rally and Silent March at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office today at 4:30pm. Then join us for the annual Trans Day of Remembrance vigil and community gathering at the William Way LGBT Community Center beginning at 6pm.”