Black History Month calls us to remember not only celebrated victories, but also the lives whose loss sparked movements for justice. One such life is Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman whose 1998 murder in Boston became a turning point in the fight to acknowledge and confront violence against transgender people—particularly Black trans women.
Who Was Rita Hester?
Rita Hester was 34 years old when she was killed in her Allston apartment on November 28, 1998. Her death received little attention from mainstream media at the time, a painful reflection of how Black transgender lives were—and too often still are—marginalized. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, especially Black and trans communities, the silence was as devastating as the loss itself.
From Tragedy to Collective Memory
In the wake of Rita’s murder, friends, activists, and allies organized a vigil to honor her life and demand recognition. That act of remembrance became the seed for what is now known globally as Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), observed every year on November 20. TDOR is dedicated to honoring transgender people who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence and to naming the systems—racism, transphobia, misogyny, and economic inequality—that place Black trans women at disproportionate risk.
Why Rita Hester’s Legacy Matters to Black History
Rita Hester’s story sits at the intersection of Black history, LGBTQ+ history, and the ongoing struggle for human rights. Black trans women experience some of the highest rates of violence, homelessness, employment discrimination, and health disparities in the United States. Remembering Rita during Black History Month underscores a hard truth: Black history is not monolithic. It includes Black people of every gender identity and sexual orientation—and it demands that we center those most often pushed to the margins.
Remembrance as a Call to Action
Transgender Day of Remembrance is not only about mourning; it is about accountability and action. Each year, names are read aloud—names that represent lives full of love, ambition, humor, and community. Rita Hester’s name is always among them, reminding us that remembrance without change is not enough.
Honoring Rita means:
- Challenging anti-trans violence wherever it appears
- Supporting Black trans-led organizations and initiatives
- Advocating for policies that protect transgender lives
- Refusing to let victims be reduced to statistics or forgotten headlines
Carrying the Legacy Forward
As we reflect during Black History Month, Rita Hester’s legacy urges us to expand who we honor and how we honor them. Her life—and the movement that arose after her death—reminds us that Black liberation must include transgender liberation. To remember Rita is to affirm that Black trans lives matter, not just in death, but in life, joy, and possibility.
Rita Hester is not only a name we remember—she is a reason we continue the work.
