This last year was the most incredible, unbelievable, and fantastic year of my life. I started the year hoping to be able to take the first of several steps toward becoming the woman I know I was born to be. Instead, my transition was physically complete in August, a miracle by any measure since that part of the transition process typically takes at least two years. Mine started and ended in a mere five months.

It was not so wonderful for the transgender community in general. There were highs and lows, to be sure. The worst news was that worldwide we saw a 300% increase in the number of transgender people being murdered compared to 2008. Some were executed by their governments; others were shot, stabbed, beaten and/or strangled to death by deranged and malicious people. All died just because they sought to live the truth of who they are.

Some notable events of 2009:

In March, President Obama rescinded a Health and Human Services resolution (created by George W. Bush in December, 2008) that would permit healthcare providers to discriminate against treating transgender people if they had moral or religious beliefs that being transgender is wrong.

April saw the first ever prosecution and conviction of a transgender murderer under a Hate Crimes law when Allen Andrade was convicted in Greeley, Colorado for the savage murder of Angie Zapata, an 18 year old transgender woman.

Also in April, a New York transgender woman who was using the women’s restroom was thrown out by a restaurant employee because she “looked too masculine.” She and her entire party were ejected from the restaurant after being humiliated. The court ordered the restaurant to add gender identity to the corporate non-discrimination statement and to state that all employees and patrons have the right to use the restroom that is consistent with their gender identity. The restaurant was also ordered to pay the woman $35,000 in damages.

In June, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA), that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives. As of this writing it is in the process of being reviewed by the House Education and Labor committee.

Also in June, Syracuse, New York was where that state’s first conviction under their Hate Crimes law occurred. It was the case of the murder of 22 year old transwoman Lateisha Green.

In October, President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard Act. This Act provides increased funding to state and local authorities to prosecute a wide range of hate crimes – ones motivated by race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It also authorizes the federal government to prosecute these crimes when states fail to do so.

In November, my home town, Stockton, California, held its first ever Transgender Day of Remembrance. One hundred twenty five people attended a Memorial Service where the transgender dead were remembered and honored. The supporters marched down Pacific Avenue in a silent candlelight procession, and then celebrated those individuals and organizations that are working to end the violence against transgender people.

The Day of Remembrance resulted in a flood of calls and emails as San Joaquin residents contacted the Stockton Transgender Alliance seeking information and support for themselves, their family members and/or acquaintances.

For some in the transgender community 2009 was a wonderful year. But we still have a lot of work to do to eliminate the fear and prejudice that causes us to be discriminated against and murdered in increasing numbers each year. All people must be free to live their lives in peace and safety. The basic human rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness must apply equally to all people.

Finally, on January 2, 2010 President Obama appointed Amanda Simpson to the position of Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce. Ms. Simpson is the first transgender appointee of the Obama administration. In a press release, Ms. Simpson was quoted as saying,

”I’m truly honored to have received this appointment and am eager and excited about this opportunity that is before me. And at the same time, as one of the first transgender presidential appointees to the federal government, I hope that I will soon be one of hundreds, and that this appointment opens future opportunities for many others.”

Ms. Simpson has thirty years experience in the aerospace and defense industry. She most recently served as Deputy Director in Advanced Technology Development at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona.