[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9110-H9112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2019, the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of the Special 
Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Rita 
Hester, a Black transgender woman killed in the Massachusetts Seventh 
District, for whom Transgender Day of Remembrance was established in 
1999.
  I rise today because, 20 years later, many more lives continue to be 
stolen. This year, we have been robbed of at least 22 transgender 
people because of hate, fear, and vitriol--22 souls, the majority of 
whom are Black transgender women; 22 people whose families, friends, 
and partners are forever marred by grief; 22 experiences of secondhand 
trauma for transgender people everywhere.
  Among them we remember: Dana Martin, Jazzaline Ware, Ashanti Carmon, 
Claire Legato, Muhlaysia Booker, Michelle ``Tamika'' Washington, Paris 
Cameron, Chynal Lindsey, Chanel Scurlock, Zoe Spears, Brooklyn Lindsey, 
Denali Berries Stuckey, Tracy Single, Bubba Walker, Kiki Fantroy, 
Jordan Cofer, Pebbles LaDime ``Dime'' Doe, Bailey Reeves, Bee Love 
Slater, Jamagio Jamar Berryman, Itali Marlowe, and Brianna ``BB'' Hill.
  May they rest in peace and power.
  Today, we remember still others not included on this list because 
their missing persons reports remain uninvestigated or because they are 
misgendered and deadnamed after their death because the people closest 
to them refused to recognize their truths.
  We remember those who die from preventable illnesses, poverty, and 
violence as a result of discrimination in healthcare, employment, 
education, and housing.
  We remember transgender women Johana Medina and Layleen Polanco, 
victims of an unjust and cruel immigration and criminal legal system.
  Mr. Speaker, colleagues, the transgender community deserves to be 
seen safe and celebrated. However, due to this administration's 
policies that continue to neglect, unfairly target, and commit violence 
against them, this is not the case.
  However, so as not to define the transgender community only by their 
trauma, today, I also rise to lift the talents and strengths of this 
community.
  I honor you, my transgender friends, for your bravery to honor your 
truths, for intentionally creating a beautiful and rich community, and 
for being role models as leaders of social change.

[[Page H9111]]

  I stand before you committed to listening to your needs, to 
recognizing and centering transgender lives, not just today but every 
day, and to being your partner in ending this devastating crisis.
  Last week, I introduced the People's Justice Guarantee, a resolution 
that reaffirms our collective right to live free from injustice. I rise 
today resolved in the fight to ensure our rights to dignity, 
liberation, and justice--justice for transgender people, justice for 
all in America.
  Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from the 
great State of California (Mr. Takano).
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Massachusetts 
for yielding.
  I know the gentlewoman has read the names of the Black trans women 
who were taken from us far too soon due to bigotry, hatred, and 
transphobia that is running rampant in our country, but if she will 
permit me, I will also enter their names. I will read them aloud. I 
believe we should honor them not just once but many times over.
  So, I rise in honor of Dana Martin, Jazzaline Ware, Ashanti Carmon, 
Claire Legato, Muhlaysia Booker, Michelle ``Tamika'' Washington, Paris 
Cameron, Chynal Lindsey, Chanel Scurlock, Zoe Spears, Brooklyn Lindsey, 
Denali Berries Stuckey, Tracy Single, Bubba Walker, Kiki Fantroy, 
Jordan Cofer, Pebbles LaDime ``Dime'' Doe, Bailey Reeves, Bee Love 
Slater, Jamagio Jamar Berryman, Itali Marlowe, and Brianna ``BB'' Hill.
  These are the names we know of transgender and nonconforming people 
who have been killed in America in the year 2019, so far.
  We cannot ignore this epidemic that is plaguing the trans community. 
We cannot forget their stories. We cannot stop fighting to protect 
trans lives.
  On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we remember their names.
  I would like to say also that I appreciated that our Speaker met 
today with actress and activist Ms. Ross, who is quite a champion of 
transgender people. Our Democratic Caucus chairman, Hakeem Jeffries, 
led a roundtable. Many Members of Congress appeared at that roundtable 
to listen to the needs of the transgender community. I thank them for 
showing their support today.
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those powerful 
words. Like the gentleman, I agree that we cannot say those names 
enough.
  Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from the 
great State of Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her work in 
this area, which is desperately needed.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on today's Transgender Day of 
Remembrance.
  For 20 years, November 20 has marked a solemn day in the LGBTQ-plus 
community. Vigils are held in communities nationwide in honor of all 
the transgender people who were senselessly and dementedly killed for 
simply being who they are.
  I told my transgender friends and families: Never seek to change who 
you are. Be exactly who you are.
  Transgendered women of color are especially vulnerable to violence 
and are 4.3 times more likely to become homicide victims than all 
women, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
  This year alone, at least 22 transgender and gender-nonconforming 
Americans have been killed in the United States. Ninety-one percent of 
them were Black women.
  I am sad to say that three transgender people of color were murdered 
in the greater Kansas City area, two in my congressional district.
  Brooklyn Lindsey was a 32-year-old Black transgender woman. Those who 
knew her say she was intelligent, had a good sense of humor, and was 
loved by many. By many accounts, she was outgoing and happy. She 
enjoyed dancing, helping others, and wanted to be a life coach.
  On June 25, she was found shot to death on an abandoned porch in 
Kansas City, Missouri.

                              {time}  1900

  Jamagio Jamar Berryman, also known as Ja'leyah Jamar, was 30 and a 
Black gender nonconforming person. Ja'leyah was passionate about fixing 
and working on cars, designing hair, and spending quality time with 
family.
  They were shot and killed in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 13. 
They left behind a 5-year-old daughter named Ja'Mya, their parents, 
seven siblings, nieces and nephews, and many others who loved them 
deeply.
  And most recently, Brianna ``BB'' Hill was a 30-year-old Black 
transgender woman who was fatally shot in Kansas City, Missouri, on 
October 14. Brianna was a beloved member of her community, a fan of the 
Kansas City Chiefs, and loved spreading joy by sharing funny videos on 
her Facebook page.
  The Department of Housing and Urban Development has removed 
requirements for applicants for homeless funding maintain 
antidiscrimination policies and demonstrate efforts to serve LGBTQ-plus 
people and their families.
  The Department of Defense has implemented a ban on transgender 
troops.
  These are just a few instances that shows that the United States of 
America--at least the administration--is in the midst of a nervous 
breakdown.
  Change is still needed to protect the LGBTQ citizens nationwide.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the for gentlewoman for allowing me to speak.
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those words and 
for telling us more about those we were prematurely robbed of all that 
they had to contribute to this world. It is important that we continue 
to bring their names into this well, into this august institution, so 
that we are compelled to continue to do this work, understanding that 
this is--behind every number--this is not about statistics. These are 
about people, people of flesh and bone who loved and were loved.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of New 
Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman), my friend and sister in service.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding to me and for leading in this Special Order hour.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here tonight to remind my colleagues and the 
world that our transgender community needs us.
  Bigotry, hate, and violence against transgender people has reached a 
level that requires a whole day devoted to simply remembering everyone 
who has lost his or her life. This year alone, over 300 have been 
murdered.
  That is to say nothing of the transgender people who were bullied or 
harassed to the point of taking their own lives just simply for 
accepting every part of themselves.
  There is no doubt in my mind that an administration that has endorsed 
hate at every turn and outright exclusion of our transgender friends 
and family is part of the problem. Our actions in this body need to be 
part of the solution.
  I am proud to be a part of the Equality Caucus Transgender Equality 
Task Force, and I am determined to see us continue to take real steps 
that will protect the rights and the freedoms of all people.
  As a founding chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and 
Girls, I am committed to recognizing the value and need of our 
transgender sisters.
  As the chair of the CBC's Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide 
and Mental Health, I am actively working to ensure transgender youth 
receive the support and the care and the love to overcome the hate of 
our society.
  This is a community in dire need, and I join my colleagues and so 
many others in stepping up and speaking out.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the opportunity to speak.
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership 
and for always fighting for those too often ignored, left out, and left 
behind. We are grateful for her.
  Now, just as I close, as we wrap this Special Order hour, Transgender 
Day of Remembrance is about remembering lives we have lost too soon, 
but it should also be about remembering the bravery of transgender 
people everywhere. I rise again to acknowledge the contributions, often 
overlooked, of transgender women of color who have been champions of 
social change.
  It was transgender advocates in my district who established the first 
Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1999 in honor of Rita Hester, a Black

[[Page H9112]]

transgender woman described as vivacious, outgoing, and loved by many 
people.
  On this day, I rise to remember the transgender women of color who 
were catalysts for the LGBT rights movement in the United States and 
around the world. We remember the bravery of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy 
and the late Sylvia Rivera, and Marsha P. Johnson in the face of the 
police who violently raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City in 1969, 
detaining and arresting people simply for being themselves.
  When faced with compounded transphobia, racism, sexism, and 
homophobia, transgender people have marched and resisted. When 
confronted with structural barriers, transgender people have organized 
and advocated.
  I remain committed, along with the dedicated members of my team--and 
I want to issue a special thanks to Jenny Curt for her contributions to 
today's Special Order hour--committed not only to lifting the stories 
of those lives lost, but to working in partnership, legislating boldly. 
I see their power; I honor their activism.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________