TONIGHT: Vigil for Trans Woman Murdered in Strawberry Mansion

Local trans advocates will use the occasion to speak out about trans violence, something they call a "harsh reality in Philadelphia."

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GALAEI and the Mazzoni Center are hosting a “Speak Out and Vigil” in Love Park tonight for Diamond, the trans woman also knows as “Mark Williams” who was murdered last week in Strawberry Mansion.

The event will honor the memory of Diamond and provide a platform for local trans advocates to “gather, speak out and organize against the violence that continues to threaten the lives of transgender women.” Recent GLAAD statistics claim that 53 percent of anti-LGBTQ homicides in 2012 were transgender women, and the recent attack on Diamond is proof that those statistics are an unfortunate “harsh reality” in the city we call home.

The vigil starts tonight at 5:30 p.m. in Love Park. Among those speaking will be GALAEI’S Trans-health Information Program‘s (TIP) Aamina Morrison, Samantha Jo Dato from Trans* Wellness Project of Mazzoni Center, Philly Trans* March organizer Christian Axavier Lovehall, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services‘ Sade Ali and Director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs Gloria Casarez.

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