Actress and trans-activist Angelica Ross was on Capitol Hill Wednesday in light of the 20th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day that honors the lives lost due to anti-trans violence.
“In 2019, at least 22 trans people have been killed, the majority of them Black trans women,” Ross said in a tweet, calling it an “epidemic.”
Today, we honor the memory of lives lost in acts of anti-trans violence. In 2019, at least 22 trans people have been killed, the majority of them Black trans women. This is an epidemic- it's up to each of us to speak out. #TDOR #SayTheirNames 🕊#PhenomenallyTrans pic.twitter.com/ilBMFEYazx
— Angelica Ross (@angelicaross) November 20, 2019
The “American Horror Story” actress, who also founded TransTech Social Enterprises, an organization focused on finding tech jobs for transgender people, is a member of the trans-community herself.
“It’s so inspiring to know that we’re not going anywhere. ... You will remember the contributions that transgender people have given to this country,” Ross said at a press conference alongside House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries, vice chair Katherine Clark and the Equality Caucus Transgender Task Force chair, Rep. Joe Kennedy III.
Ross said she doesn’t believe President Donald Trump is single-handedly responsible for anti-trans rhetoric, but is “helping bring more of it to the surface.”
“I want us to be careful about having a scapegoat through Trump, to feel like this is all Trump’s doing because there’s a lot of well-meaning people who have supported Trump along the way whether they know it or not,” she said in response to a question.
Ross participated in a closed roundtable discussion hosted by the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, according to a release.
“Stop looking for other people to blame and start taking responsibility for your country because it belongs to all of us,” Ross said.
