LAS VEGAS HOSTS NEVADA’S FIRST-EVER TRANS PRIDE WEEK

Nov 15, 2013
Gay Media & Press Network

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In the midst of significant LGBTQ progress on both local and national levels, Las Vegas will play host to the inaugural Trans Pride Week – five days of events and activities designed to bring awareness and pride to the local transgender community between Nov. 20 – 24.

Spearheaded by The Center, Gender Justice Nevada, Mary Magdalene Friends UCC, Northwest Community Church and Get EQUAL Nevada, anyone within the LGBTQ and allied communities are encouraged to take part in this historic occasion.

Marginalized, victimized and dehumanized, transgender individuals all over the world, including right here in Las Vegas, face unspeakable degradation on a daily basis.  Unfortunately, localized data for our transgender community does not exist.  However, according to the most recent National Transgender Discrimination Survey compiled by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, transgender individuals are steeped in a number of atrocities:

  • Compared to the general population, transgender individuals are four times more likely to have a household income of less than $10,000 per year
  • A staggering 41% of the transgender population report attempting suicide
  • Due to anti-trans bias, 55% of transgender individuals have lost a job
  • 64% of the transgender population has experienced sexual assault
  • Transgender youth in grades K-12 report alarming rates of harassment (78%), physical assault (35%) and sexual violence (12%)
  • Trans people of color are confronted with a devastating combination of anti-transgender bias and persistent, structural racism

The aforementioned facts are but one snapshot in the transgender gallery of injustice and serve as a testament to the severe need for a Trans Pride Week in Nevada.

Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, the Executive Director of TGI Justice (Transgender, Gender Variant and Intersex Justice), will be featured as the keynote speaker for the evening of Friday, Nov. 22 and the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 23.  Miss Major is a black, formerly incarcerated, transgender elder who has been an activist in her community for more than 40 years.  She was at the Stonewall uprising in 1969, became politicized at Attica, was an original member of the first all-transgender gospel choir, and is a father, mother, grandmother and grandfather to her own children and to many in the transgender community.

Trans Pride Week events are as follows:

Trans Pride March
Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.
Starting at The Center and ending at City Hall, attendees for the Trans Pride March are invited to create signs and banners ahead of time and get ready to spread their Trans Pride as we march through Downtown.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Awareness Day
Thursday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The Wall of Remembrance, honoring victims of hate crimes, will be displayed at The Center.  Supporters can come see the wall and light a candle in honor of those slain in hate crimes.  Musically inclined individuals are welcome to come sing songs of hope, inspiration, or whatever their heart is led to do.

TransGiving
Thursday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m.
An open discussion taking place at The Center focused on building unity and solidarity among transgender persons throughout Southern Nevada.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil
Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.
According to the Transgender Murder Monitoring Project, there have been 238 reported cases of murdered trans people in the past year.  Hosted at The Center, the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil will honor the lives lost in hate crimes.

Transgender Day of Empowerment
Saturday, Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Coordinated by Gender Justice Nevada and held at The Center, this event will bring growth and empowerment to the transgender community in Southern Nevada through educational workshops, wellness activities, speakers and community building opportunities.

Trans Worship Service
Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m.
Mary Magdalene Friends UCC will host a special Trans Worship Service at The Center for anyone to attend, no matter where they are in life’s spiritual or religious journey.

Transgender Day of Celebration
Sunday, Nov. 24 at from 4 – 6 p.m.
Hosted by Lady Jazmynne Daria, this evening of celebration will include a variety of musical entertainment, comedy, storytelling and more.

Club Metro Trans Pride Week Mixer
Sunday, Nov. 24 at from 6 p.m. – close
Continuing with their generous streak of donations to local nonprofit organizations, Club Metro will offer an $8 beer bust and $10 liquor bust with proceeds benefitting Las Vegas Trans Pride and Gender Justice Nevada.

For more information about Trans Pride Week, please visit www.thecenterlv.org/transpride.

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