Title
Resolution Recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility
Body
Whereas, Ann Arbor is committed to fostering a diverse and welcoming community and ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity and respect, and protected from discrimination or harm;
Whereas, March 31 has been recognized annually as "Transgender Day of Visibility" since 2009 when Michigan transgender activist Rachel Crandall founded the observance to celebrate and honor the transgender community, as well as to raise awareness about the increased rates of discrimination and violence experienced by transgender individuals;
Whereas, Ann Arbor has benefitted greatly, both culturally and economically, from the many contributions made to our community by transgender and gender non-conforming individuals;
Whereas, Three years before Ann Arbor became the first city in the United States to officially recognize "Gay Pride" and forty years before the first "Transgender Day of Visibility" was celebrated, what we know as "Pride" today was born out of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in direct response to constant and targeted police harassment and violence against the LGBTQ community, but disproportionately against transgender people of color;
Whereas, Transgender and gender non-conforming people, but especially transgender women of color, continue to experience elevated levels of violence and discrimination;
Whereas, At least forty-four transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, mostly transgender women of color, were killed by violent means in 2020, making it the worst year on record for transphobic violence, and an additional eight individuals have already been killed in 2021;
Whereas, According to the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), one in five transgender people in the United States has been discriminated when seeking a home, more than one in ten have been evicted from their homes because of their gender identity, and one in five transgender individuals have experienc...
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