The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance calls attention to an epidemic of violence against trans people, and Black trans women in particular, but did you know that this solemn event was inspired by a brutal 1998 Allston murder? In this episode, we hear from the friends of Rita Hester about a vibrant life that was inspired by music and cut short by violence. We’ll see how her murder fit a pattern of crimes in the Boston area in the late 90s and how Rita’s family and friends channeled their grief into activism. You’ll also have to suffer through some meandering personal anecdotes, because this is one of the only episodes of the show to recount an event in Boston history that took place since I lived here.

Full show notes: http://HUBhistory.com/314/

Support us: http://patreon.com/HUBhistory/

Remembering Rita

• The Allston-Brighton Tab, Dec 15-21, 1998: Coverage of the Allston vigil for Rita, including pics of her mother and siblings


• The Boston Phoenix, Dec 10-17, 1998: Coverage of Rita’s death and the discussion over how her death was covered in the news


• The Boston Globe, Nov 30, 1998: Initial coverage of Rita’s death using transphobic language


• The Boston Globe, Dec 03, 1998: George Kierstein’s letter to the editor asks the Globe to use more respectful language


• The Boston Globe, Feb 19, 1999: Reporting on the ongoing investigation uses somewhat better language


• Past guest Russ Lopez includes a description of Rita in his book, The Hub of the Gay Universe.


• The Boston Globe, Nov 23, 1995: Gabrielle Pickett believes her sister Chanelle’s killer knew they were trans


• The Boston Globe, Nov 29, 1995: Regulars at the Playland bar remember that Chanelle Palmer’s killer preferred trans women


• The Boston Globe, Dec 11, 1995: A memorial service for Chanelle at Arlington Street Church


• The Boston Globe, Mar 13, 1996: Violence against the LGBTQ community spiked in 1995


• 2008 profile of Rita Hester by Michael Wood for Edge Boston


• If you only follow one link this week, make it Kate Sosin’s 2020 profile of Rita for NBC News


• November 20, 2021 Statement by President Biden on Transgender Day of Remembrance


• Nancy Nangeroni’s “Rita Hester’s Murder and the Language of Respect”