PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Nov. 14, 2017 — On November 20, the Transgender Community Coalition will host their annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) honoring the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence in the past year. The event will take place at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the vigil commencing at 5 p.m.

“One out of eight transgender people of color face murder in their lifetime, and one out of 12 Caucasian trans people face murder in their lifetime,” says Thomi Clinton, Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Transgender Community Coalition in Palm Springs.

Speakers at this year’s event include: the CEO of the Transgender Community Coalition with Gwendolyn Ann Smith, founder of the TDoR, Ian Harvie, Transgender comedian and actor from the award-winning TV series Transparent, Ryan Sallans, Transgender author and advocate and Ashlee Marie Preston, Transgender producer and activist.

This year, Palm Springs’ Transgender Community Coalition unveils the first Transgender Day of Remembrance Memorial Cenotaph Sculpture. The non-profit organization commissioned the life-size sculpture to honor victims of transgender violence. The statue was inspired after the death of a transgender woman, Yaz’min Sanchez, who was shot and burned behind a garbage bin in Florida. Sanchez’ body left a silhouette where her remains were discovered.

Los Angeles-based metal artist Heath Satow created the breathtaking sculpture, illustrating the life-size figure, made of steel butterflies (symbolizing metamorphosis or transition), lying on their side. The sculpture aims to inspire needed conversations aimed at ending discrimination and violence against transgender people in the United States and across the world.

Thomi Clinton
Transgender Community Coalition
Phone: 760-218-4326
Email: [email protected]