It was a candlelight vigil without the candles, since a cool breeze would have made the ceremony impossible. But that didn’t stop two dozen people from attending a Transgender Day of Remembrance service on the steps of City Hall on Nov. 20.
The short ceremony, organized by Trans*Action Florida, was held with permission from the city and featured several speakers, including Trans*Action Florida executive director Michael Keefe, counselor Tristan Byrnes and St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornell.
“We hear statistics all the time about violence against the transgender community,” Keefe told the crowd. “I can guarantee you those numbers are not correct. Each of those incidents of transphobia are not reported and the numbers we do have are way below reality.”
The day, commemorated around the world, recognizes members of the transgender community who have died as a result of violence directed at them solely for their gender identity. It’s something that has to stop, according to Kornell.
“Members of the transgender community are members of our community,” Kornell said at the ceremony. “Know that as an elected official, I am fighting for your rights and for your protections.”
Currently, neither Pinellas County nor the City of St. Petersburg offers protections for transgender individuals in their respective human rights ordinances. That’s something many in the community hope to change.
Several in attendance spoke at the vigil, expressing support for transgender neighbors or sharing their own personal stories of discrimination. The service ended with a simple message ”never forget.”
