Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus Statement on 2017 Transgender Day of Remembrance

The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus, representing Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, issued the following statement from President Terry Fleming on the 2017 Transgender Day of Remembrance:

“On this day every year we honor the memories of our transgender brothers and sisters who have lost their lives due to hatred or prejudice. Sadly, the numbers keep climbing. So far this year, 25 transgender men and women have been murdered in the US, surpassing the 23 murdered in all of 2016.

“Violence against the LGBT community is on the rise, and violence against transgender Americans increased 43% from 2015 to 2016, according to the 2016 Hate Crimes and Statistics Report recently released by the FBI, which tracks data from more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies across the country. Clearly, transgender Americans are under attack. In the tense political environment we currently inhabit, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that all Americans — whoever they are, wherever they live, and however they choose to express themselves — are treated with respect and dignity, and able to be safe in their communities.”