Athens, Georgia , October 28, 2009 — The University of Georgia, Division of Student Affairs and Department of Intercultural Affairs’ LGBT Resource Center welcomes Dr. Stephanie Dykes who will visit on November 16th to honor transgender lives lost which is observed on November 20th.
Transgender Day of Remembrance honors the memory of those who have lost their lives to hatred and prejudice based on their gender identity and/or expression. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28, 1998 inspired a San Francisco candlelight vigil and web project in 1999 aptly titled, “Remembering Our Dead.” Rita Hestor’s murder – like most anti-transgender murder cases – has yet to be solved.
“Despite the challenges transgender people face, we are survivors who live authentic lives in the face of adversity,” says keynote speaker, Dr. Stephanie Dykes. Dr. Stephanie Dykes is a transgender activist and has spoken on transgender issues at several national and regional conferences, including the National Women’s Studies Association, the American Men’s Studies Association, and the Southeastern Women’s Studies Association. She has been an invited speaker at numerous colleges and universities including Georgia College and State University, Valdosta State University, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Eastern Kentucky University, and Western Carolina University. Dr. Dykes earned her PhD from the University of South Carolina, and completed her undergraduate work at Clemson University

The LGBT Resource Center will present a display on Tate Plaza commemorating transgender lives lost in the past year from 2008-2009.

Lambda Alliance, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally student-based organization, will host “Lunch with Lambda” beginning at 12pm in Memorial Hall, room 407. Lunch will be provided for the first 30 participants.

At 2:30pm there will be an educational seminar in the Georgia Center, Room E for faculty, staff, and administrators campus-wide to come and learn about best practices for working with transgender students.

Dr. Dykes will deliver her keynote address, “The Price of Authenticity” on Monday at 7:00pm in Miller Learning Center, room 148.