The White House on Wednesday released a
statement marking the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR).
“This day is an opportunity to
remember those who have lost their lives to violence and injustice
because of their gender identity or gender expression,” the White
House wrote.
The first Transgender Day of
Remembrance was held in 1999 to memorialize the murder of Rita
Hester, a transgender African-American woman whose 1998 murder
remains unsolved. According
to the organizers behind TDoR, hundreds of transgender people
were murdered this year.
“The Obama administration remains
committed to preventing violence against all people, including all
members of the LGBT community.”
At a White House reception in June to
mark LGBT Pride Month, President Obama said: “The genius of America
is that America can change. And people who love this country can
change it. That's what we're called to do. And I hope that when we
gather here next year, and the year after that, we'll be able to say,
with pride and confidence, that together we've made our fellow
citizens a little more free. We've made this country a little more
equal. We've made our world a little more full of love.”