Rita Hester
Transgender African American woman, murder victim
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The basics
Quick Facts
| Intro | Transgender African American woman, murder victim | |
| Places | United States of America | |
| was | Victim | |
| Gender |
| |
| Birth | 1 January 1964 | |
| Death | 28 November 1998Boston (aged 34 years) |
The details
Biography
Rita Hester (30 November 1963 - 28 November 1998) was a transgender African American woman who was murdered in Allston, Massachusetts on November 28, 1998. In response to her murder, an outpouring of the Black community's grief and anger led to a candlelight vigil held the following Friday (December 4) in which about 250 people participated. Her death also inspired the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Gwendolyn Ann Smith founded the Transgender Day of Remembrance in 1999.