FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – At Central Park in Fernandina Beach, the community gathered to honor transgender people who lost their lives to violence.
Eight victims were remembered with prose, poetry, song and prayer. All those honored at the annual vigil lived within an eight-hour drive from Fernandina Beach.
Pam Cooper and her husband participated in the vigil to show support.
“Once you get to know folks in that ‘other group’ that’s different than you, you can’t help but say, ‘Hey, they’re just like me,‘" Cooper said.
The vigil comes one day after the City Commission read a proclamation for the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
“We’re thankful to live in a place that we can have events like this to bring awareness,” Fernandina Beach Pride President Jordan Morris said.
This was the first public meeting for recently elected commissioners, including a newly-elected Mayor, who declined to read the proclamation aloud.
Instead, it was read by a newly-elected commissioner Joyce Tuten.
“I, Joyce Tuten, by virtue of the authority vested in me as commissioner of the city of Fernandina Beach hereby proclaim November 20th, 2024, as Transgender Day of Remembrance,” she said at the council meeting on Tuesday.
Vice-Mayor Darron Ayscue was among those who voiced opposition to the proclamation reading.
“I believe this proclamation is part of a broader political agenda and I will not support it,” Ayscue said.
Fernandina Beach Pride’s Treasurer Genece Minshew was elected city commission.
Morris said he’s looking forward to working with all the commissioners to improve the group’s relationship with them.