By Staff Reports

Panel discussion is first in a series, scheduled in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance


The Rev. Colleen Darraugh

The Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Dallas will hold the first in a series of educational events on transgender awareness following the 10 a.m. worship service and lunch on Sunday, Nov. 18. The event was scheduled to coincide with the ninth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance on Tuesday, Nov. 20, memorializing those who have been killed in acts of hatred or prejudice against transgender people.

“We live in times more sensitive than ever to hatred-based violence, especially since the events of Sept. 11, 2001,” said the Rev. Colleen Darraugh, senior pastor of the church. “Yet even now, the deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored.

“People who identify as transgendered often receive discrimination from heterosexuals as well as from the gay and lesbian community,” Darraugh continued. “Too many still operate on a hierarchy of rights. These events are opportunities to educate and inform others about the issues transgendered people frequently face in the movement for equal rights.”

Panel-ists for the event include church members Marla Parker, Jamy Spradlin and Brenda Stowe. They will share their personal coming out stories, the issues they faced and the challenges they deal with on a daily basis. They will also answer audience questions.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is held in November each year to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” Web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Since then, the event has grown to encompass memorials in dozens of cities across the world.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 16, 2007 наполнение сайта контентом киевраскрутка сайта usa