Text of PA SR 367 (2024)

PRINTER'S NO. 1981 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RESOLUTION No. 367 Session of 2024 INTRODUCED BY L. WILLIAMS, CAPPELLETTI, KEARNEY, MUTH, TARTAGLIONE, SAVAL, HUGHES, STREET, COMITTA, HAYWOOD, SCHWANK AND COLLETT, NOVEMBER 7, 2024 REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, NOVEMBER 7, 2024 A RESOLUTION Recognizing the week of November 13 through 19, 2024, as "Transgender Awareness Week" and November 20, 2024, as "Transgender Day of Remembrance" in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, "Transgender Awareness Week" is a time for transgender people and their allies to take action and bring attention to the community by educating the public and advancing advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination and violence that affect the transgender community; and WHEREAS, Individuals and organizations around the country annually participate in "Transgender Awareness Week" to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender-expansive people and hold space to lift up transgender people's sharing of their own stories, joys and experiences; and WHEREAS, The day following "Transgender Awareness Week" is November 20 and this day, known as "Transgender Day of Remembrance," began in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a 34- year-old Black transgender woman who was the victim of an 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 unsolved and brutal murder in 1998; and WHEREAS, "Transgender Day of Remembrance" is now an annual day of observance to honor the memory of all individuals whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence and bring attention to the continued violence endured by transgender people; and WHEREAS, In 2024, at least 27 transgender and gender- expansive people have had their lives taken tragically through violent means, with 63% killed with a gun; and WHEREAS, As in previous years, many were Black and Latine transgender women; and WHEREAS, The designation of "Transgender Awareness Week" and "Transgender Remembrance Day" in Pennsylvania raises much-needed awareness of the violence and injustice that transgender people continue to face each day and encourages us to mourn and honor their lives by expressing love, support and respect for all transgender people; and WHEREAS, The Senate and the General Assembly must act to protect and preserve the lives of all transgender people by prioritizing funding and legislation; therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the week of November 13 through 19, 2024, as "Transgender Awareness Week" and November 20, 2024, as "Transgender Day of Remembrance" in Pennsylvania. 20240SR0367PN1981 - 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23