November 20, 2024 - Harrisburg, PA
The Governor's Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs joined the Department of Human Services, the Legislative LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, and fellow Pennsylvanians to remember the 63 transgender Americans, including four Pennsylvanians, who have lost their lives due to acts of violence this past year. November 20 is the internationally recognized Trans Day of Remembrance. To memorialize those who lost their lives this year, the Governor's Advisory Commission placed 63 flags on the South Lawn of the Irvis Office Building. "As a trans, non-binary person I am always sad to be a part of these events, but it gives me hope to know that there are people at every level of government standing up for my community. It will take all of us to do the work together to end transphobia and anti-LGBTQ hatred right here in the Commonwealth." said Ashleigh Strange, Executive Director, Governor's Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs. "The Shapiro Administration is committed to ending this cycle of violence in our communities, and we are heartened by some of the progress we've made to ensure that LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians in our communities are cared for and protected." The Commission brought together legislators, community advocates, local LGBT centers across the Commonwealth, violence prevention organizations, and families of Pennsylvanians who lives were lost in a solemn remembrance of the transgender Pennsylvanians whose lives were lost in the past year due to acts of violence. The Pennsylvanians being honored today include - Ashton Myles Clatterbuck and River Paige Olmstead of Lancaster County, Pauly Likens of Mercer County, and Cris Velazquez of Philadelphia County. List of Speakers:Ashleigh Strange, Executive Director of the Governor's Advisory Commission on LGBTQ AffairsDr. Val Arkoosh, Secretary of PA Department of Human ServicesJeremy Armstrong, Co-Chair of Gender and Sexual Justice Caucus for the PA Coalition Against Domestic ViolenceRep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, member of the LGBTQ+ Equality CaucusMalinda Clatterbuck, Lancaster CountyKhalid Taylor, Musical performance
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