IW hosts Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil

MT. PLEASANT — Iowa Wesleyan’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the Mt. Pleasant Area Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will host a vigil in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance.

“With the way the election went and the issues we saw in offensive campaigns, we thought a vigil to bring awareness was important,” PFLAG Secretary Bob Mueller said.

Mueller is a gay man in the Mt. Pleasant community who wants to bring awareness to the way political ads, legislation, and combat uninformed negative opinions of the transgender community.

“As a society we are much more accepting of the LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) people, however, legislators stop short of transgender people,” Mueller said.

“This is a national day of remembrance,” said Mueller. “It has been observed since 1999 by the transgender community.”

According to PFLAG, the day began with a vigil held to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998.

According to Mueller, there is concern that legislation like the “Don’t Say Gay,” bill enacted in Florida are likely to make their way to Iowa with the newest elected officials.

“Political propaganda has increased discrimination and violence toward transgendered persons in recent years,” former house representative candidate Mike Heaton said. “Fortunately, we have a ‘live and let live’ way of life here in rural Iowa.”

According to a PFLAG news release, “In Iowa we are seeing growing intolerance of transgender individuals as evidenced in the recent election. Too often transgender youth are the targets at the time when they are most vulnerable to suicide and violence. Too often they are bullied at school by fellow students and adults. Too often they are afraid to tell their own parents for fear of rejection.”

“According to a recent Pew poll, nearly 90% of Americans say they personally know someone who is lesbian, gay, or bisexual,” the release also states. “However, multiple polls show that approximately 20% of Americans say they personally know someone who is transgender.”

“Events like the Transgender Day of Remembrance show how rural Iowans are standing up against hate and becoming leaders in supporting the rights of people to live as themselves,” he said.

The vigil will take place Sunday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m. on the Iowa Wesleyan campus and consist of a presentation by Mueller, readings of 70 names of transgender individuals lost in the last year, and poetry.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com