This past Saturday, the South Florida LGBT community and our allies gathered to mark the 10th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. Organized by TERI, the Transgender Equality Rights Initiative, the memorial was heart-wrenching and cathartic, angering and sobering, moving and numbing all at the same time. Too many names were added to the list... All for simply being themselves. Here is a video of the reading of the names (thanks to Marc Dickerman for the video).


iPhone users: Click to watch

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Denise King, Simmie Williams' mother, for being at the event and reading her son's name. My heart and love, and the support of our entire community, go out to her.

A few pictures after the jump...

The gathering at the Sunshine Cathedral MCC.

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Bilerico-Florida Contributor Anthony Niedwiecki lighting the candles for the memorial.

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Too many lives lost to hate.

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Tobias Packer, South Florida Field Organizer for Equality Florida, reading the Broward County Commission's proclamation recognizing the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

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Robin Bartleman, Chair of the Broward County School Board.

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Allyson Robinson, HRC Foundation Associate Director of Diversity.

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Denise King, Mother of Simmie Williams, reading her own child's name.

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Waymon Hudson reading Ashley Sweeney's name.

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Jacqui Charvet, Co-Administrator of TERI.

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