trans | Rest In Peace : Brandon Teena, Lisa Lambert, Philip DeVine. (Reply)

I hope nobody minds if I post my memorial thoughts here. I just wrote this in my own diary, but I found so much emotion came out, and I want to share it with more people.

My heart is heavy today as I remember the horrific murders of these poor people. From an essay written by my Dad ...

Brandon Teena was living unobtrusivevely as a FTM when the local newspaper made his background known. He was assaulted and raped by two men who he identified to police. They were not arrested, according to the testimony of the Sheriff’s deputies, as result of specific instructions not to arrest them. A few days later the two people responsible for the original attack murdered him, his girlfriend and another of their friends.

J Sermon, "Social Analysis and Theological Reflection Assignment : Gender", 2003

Well my dad got it wrong - Brandon's girlfriend, Lana Tisdel, was not murdered. As far as I know she is still alive.

Dear Lana ... where are you now? How do you feel today? Do you still remember Brandon? I heard you had a baby ... how is your child doing?

Dear Tanner Lambert ... you must be nearly 11 by now. How are you? How did that terrible incident affect you? How has it been, growing up without your mother? I feel for you, dear child, I really do.

Dear JoAnn Brandon ... what thoughts go through your mind today? I am sorry for you that you not only lost your daughter, but you never got the chance to know him as your son.

This makes me cry.

But there is good news that arises from Brandon's tragic story ...

Now -- a decade after the murder on New Year's Eve 1993 -- hate crime laws in states and municipalities that specifically include transgendered people have increased from nine to 65, according to the Transgender Law Policy Institute. This year, California became the fourth state to adopt a law.

Big corporations, such as Hewlett-Packard and Nike, have adopted similar rules. And 145 members of Congress have banned such discrimination from their offices, said Riki Wilchins, executive director of the Washington-based Gender Public Advocacy Coalition.

from a CNN news article

Dear Brandon, I am glad that your death was not the end. You've helped us all so much, though you don't know it.

I miss you. We will never forget you.