Statement from Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis’s Transgender Advisory Council on Transgender Remembrance Day
For Immediate Release
Monday, November 20, 2023
Contact: Press@ltg.ca.gov, (916) 445-8994
SACRAMENTO – Today, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis’s Transgender Advisory Council released the following statement in honor of Transgender Remembrance Day:
“On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we mourn the lives lost to transphobic violence and recommit to creating a world where all can live freely and without fear. In 2023 alone, at least 35 transgender and gender-diverse people were murdered in the United States, with Black transgender women bearing the brunt of this violence.
Together, we can advocate for protective policies, educate ourselves and others, use inclusive language, speak out against transphobia, and support transgender individuals in our communities. Let’s create a world where everyone is safe and respected. Let’s create a California for all.”
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis established the first in the nation Transgender Advisory Council in 2021 to elevate the issues faced by transgender people across California. The council is comprised of nine transgender activists, advocates, and elected officials from across the state. View the Press Release for more information about the council.
The Lt. Governor’s Transgender Advisory Council includes the following members:
- Co-Chair Ebony Ava Harper
- Co-Chair Evan Michael Minton
- Bamby Salcedo
- Lisa Middleton
- Zizi Bandera
- Khilynn Fowler
- Blossom Brown
- Drian Juarez
- Rosio Leon Velasco-Stoll