Rita Hester was a Black trans woman born in Hartford Connecticut in 1963. Hester was murdered in Allston, Massachusetts, on November 28, 1998. Her death sparked Transgender Day of Remembrance. For the twenty-fifth anniversary lets discuss the intersectionality of Black and queerness.

The Transgender Legacy Flag was created by Ephraim Adamz of Hartford CT in 2023 for the twenty-fifth anniversary of Transgender Day of Remembrance. It recognizes the resilience that has been built off the bloodshed of Black trans bodies.

Blue, pink, and white are paired with black and brown at the center of the Transgender Legacy Flag to represent the intersections of gender and ethnicity among negro descendants of U.S chattel slavery and the African Diaspora. The triangular midpoint insinuates an hourglass, which symbolizes past, present, future, and legacy.

It’s creation was inspired to bring attention to Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman from Hartford CT who’s murder in 1998 sparked the first Transgender Day of Remembrance. Prior to the display of the flag there had been little to no public mention that Rita Hester was born in Hartford CT, which highlighted a disconnect within the queer community surrounding social class and ethnic disparities.   

A total of four Transgender Legacy Flags were raised on Pratt Street in Hartford Connecticut from November 20, 2023 through November 28, 2023.

The Hartford Courant published an article on November 27, 2023.

The Transgender Legacy Ceremony was held on November 28, 2023 at 12 Charter Oak Pl in Hartford CT, across the street from the Dutch Point Projects where Rita Hester grew up to historically and accurately align with the anniversary of her passing.

The Transgender Legacy Ceremony was an experience conceptualized by Ephraim Adamz which featured a curated art exhibit, open mic, potluck, historical video clips, and 90s music - the era and soundtrack to Rita Hester's life.

The event was attended by Kim Hester (Rita's sister) and Taufiqul Chowdhury (Rita's nephew).

In the Trans Remembrance video viewers can experience the documented feedback, inspirations, and motivations leading up to the creation of the Transgender Legacy Flag, and engage in the community concerns that were discussed during the Transgender Legacy Ceremony. Release of the Trans Remembrance video was synced with Transgender Day of Visibility 2024 to foster follow up conversations. 

T-Girl: The Truth In Transitioning explores the before and after testimony of a young Black transgender woman as she embarks on her Bottom Surgery journey. The title "T-Girl" is used here as a metaphor for Truth and Truthful without diluting the experience of Black communities who fully embrace Ebonics and African American Vernacular English terms.

DIRECTED BY: Ephraim Adamz

STARRING: Ciara Ta-Halor

Genre: Documentary | International Transgender Day of Visibility | Queer | Gender Reassignment Surgery, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Gender Affirmation Surgery, Gender-Affirming Surgery, Bottom Surgery