Recommendation 20251020-006: Proclamation for Transgender Day of Remembrance — original pdf

Recommendation

. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: 20251020-006: Proclamation for Transgender Day of Remembrance WHEREAS, the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), observed annually on November 20, honors the memory of transgender and gender-diverse people whose lives have been lost to acts of anti-transgender violence; WHEREAS, TDOR was founded in 1999 by advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to memorialize Rita Hester, and has since grown into an internationally recognized observance affirming the dignity, resilience, and humanity of transgender communities; WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and safety for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive residents and employees through its policies, programs, and partnerships; WHEREAS, formal recognition of TDOR through a City of Austin proclamation and coordinated City participation would reaffirm the City’s values of respect, justice, and belonging, while providing visible support for a community that continues to experience disproportionate levels of violence, discrimination, and erasure; and, WHEREAS, many U.S. cities—including Dallas, San Antonio, Denver, and Portland—have adopted formal proclamations and partnerships for TDOR to demonstrate solidarity and public commitment to trans equity and safety; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that the City Council issue an annual proclamation recognizing November 20th, 2025 as Transgender Day of Remembrance in the City of Austin, beginning in 2025 and continuing annually thereafter. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Commission recommends that City Council direct the City Manager to direct appropriate City departments—including the Equity Office, Human Resources Department, and Communications and Public Information Office—to coordinate City participation, including public acknowledgment, employee education, and community engagement efforts aligned with local TDOR observances. . BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Commission recommends that City Council direct City staff to collaborate with local transgender-led organizations in planning and promoting annual TDOR observances to ensure authenticity, safety, and community representation. Date of Approval: October 20, 2025 Motioned By: Commissioner Brown Seconded By: Chair Coyne Vote: 9-0 For: Chair Coyne, Commissioners Bandit, Benson, Brown, Davis, Fierro-Pérez, Knutson, Neal, Rivas Against: None Abstain: None Off the dais: None Absent: Vice Chair McLeod, Commissioners Krueger, Treviño Attest: _____________________________________________ Ryan Sperling, LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission Staff Liaison