First Transgender Memorial Plaque unveiled in West Hollywood

Several distinguished West Hollywood city council people were in attendance at the ceremonies including John J. Duran, Jeffrey Prang, and West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land.

Chaz Bono made a moving speech during his appearance celebrating his acceptance of his identity at the public ceremony.

Leaders and long-time activists in the community like Shirley Bushnell and Amanda Stevens, along with others, were also present and made presentations. Notably leading the forum that evening was Karina Samala whose outstanding leadership in the community has earned well-deserved recognition. In 2006, she received the "Connie Norman Award" that recognizes an individual for outstanding achievement in fostering racial, ethnic, religious and gender unity within the LGBT community.

In 2006, Ms. Samala also received "The Karina Samala Transgender Trailblazer Award," the first award given to a transgender by The Gay and Lesbian Center of Los Angeles for her outstanding work in the intervention and prevention of HIV in the GLBT community.

Ms. Samala is currently President of the Imperial Court of Los Angeles & Hollywood as well being a member of the National Center for Transgender Equality, West Hollywood Transgender Task Force and The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s GLBT Advisory Council.

It was Rita Hester’s still unsolved murder on November 28th, 1998 that initiated the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current mainstream media doesn’t perform nearly as much as it should.

The vigil publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten.

It also gives allies an opportunity to step forward and stand in vigil, memorializing those who have died by anti-transgender violence.

Standing with the scores of transgender people and their allies in West Hollywood on Friday honoring the spirit and last wishes of the late Connie Norman who, as John Duran reminded us, pleaded, "Take care of my Trannies!" made me a proud person.