SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A flag with blue, pink and white stripes could be seen flying over the California State Capitol Wednesday. Most people looking up likely didn't even notice it. Yet, it's significance is tremendous for a community frequently at the center of extreme controversy and violence.
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the transgender pride flag flown over the capitol for the transgender day of remembrance. It was also flown at Sacramento City Hall. The day is intended to remember violence against transgender people like Sacramento resident Chynna Gibson who was killed in New Orleans in 2017.
"It's also important to have this day as a way of saying 'OK, we're going to mourn the dead but we're also going to fight like hell for the living,'" explained Mari Wrobi, an intern at the Gender Health Center. "And we're going to fight for the folks who are still here and still experiencing the trauma of these events."
Wrobi explained who is affected the most.
"All trans people experience violence and discrimination to some degree," said Wrobi. "But most definitely trans people of color and trans women of color are primarily affected."
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Wrobi said there are things everyone can do to be more inclusive.
"The best way to be respectful of trans people and show that you're actually trying to support the community is doing things like asking people their pronouns and or presenting your pronouns," explained Wrobi.
Wrobi uses the pronouns they, them, theirs.
There were a number of events on Wednesday commemorating the day. Sac State held a day of transgender recognition in the student union. Sac State student and peer health educator Jessica Lemos helped organize the event.
"What we're doing today is we've set this up to recognize violence against trans folks, but also to specifically showcase statistics of just how prevalent this issue is," explained Lemos.
Candles were lit and pictures of victims are posted around the room. Lemos pointed out some of the people whose pictures were on the wall.
"This is Tracy Single," said Lemos. "She was a black trans woman. She was killed this July 30 in Houston, Texas. She was 22 years old."
The Human Rights Campaign said nationwide, 22 trans people have been killed in 2019 alone.
"One of the things you'll notice is that almost every single person that we have here on our wall is a woman of color," said Lemos.
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