Some of you may recall back in February I visited a local community garden. Having lived in Texas for 16 years it did not surprise me to see plants growing in the garden mid-winter. What did surprise me was finding a memorial to people killed during hate crimes.

Sometimes it is easy to forget how far we have come and how far we still have to go. One of the web sites quoted on the memorial for MH is Unfinished Lives. I have followed this blog for quite some time and each time I read a story about the beating death of a transgender individual,  or the arson attack against a lesbian couple, or the harassment of a gay man I can’t help but remember the friends I have lost to hate and the risk all of us continue to face daily, simply because we refuse to pretend to be a person we are not.

In loving memory of Mia Henderson.
1988 – 2014
For more information on transgender hate crimes visit unfinished lives.com

In loving memory of Rudolf Brazda.
The last member to have worn the pink triangle
1913 – 2011

May they all rest in peace….and may we all learn to choose love over hate.