Pride Community Holds
Vigil For Trans Lives
Above: Dr. Carolyn Wolf-Gould, head of the Gender Wellness Center in Oneonta, leans her head against that of Dakota Davis, Oneonta, during a candle lit vigil at First United Methodist Church in Oneontathis evening. The vigil was held in memory of Kendra Adams, a trans woman who was found murdered at a construction site in Ithaca on June 13th. “Her family has asked that she not be remembered as a person murdered, but remember her as the girl who accepted everyone.” said event organizer Elayne Mosher Campoli, right, with daughter Amelia. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 13 trans women of color murdered in the U.S. The names of the victims and the circumstances of their deaths were read aloud before candles were lit in their memory. Rev. Rebecca Drebert of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bainbridge, a trans woman herself, spoke on the importance of rejecting messages of hate and violence and believing love will win out. “I reject the idea that this type of violence is part of God’s plan.” she said, “The relationship that God wants with us is with our deepest, truest identity. We have all been wounded, and we need healing.” Other speakers included Rev. Teressa Sivers of First United Methodist in Oneonta, Council member Michelle Osterhoudt, Oneonta, 10th grader Sadie Lincoln, Laurens, who read a piece she wrote called ’15 Lessons I Learned Before 15′, and musical performance by Leah Echstein, Oneonta, and others. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)