The Wisconsin Legislature has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 115, which proclaims November 20 as Wisconsin's Transgender Day of Remembrance for the years 2025 and 2026. This resolution aims to honor and memorialize individuals who have been murdered due to transphobia and to raise awareness about the ongoing violence faced by the transgender and nonbinary community. The day was established in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to commemorate the murder of transgender woman Rita Hester and has since grown into an international observance highlighting the alarming rates of violence against transgender individuals.

The resolution underscores the significant discrimination and violence that transgender Americans experience, citing reports from the Human Rights Campaign of at least 33 fatal incidents in 2023 and 30 in 2024 involving transgender or gender-expansive individuals. It emphasizes that such acts of violence are not only a public health crisis but also a violation of the American value of self-determination. By recognizing this day, the Wisconsin Legislature aims to foster awareness and promote action against the epidemic of violence targeting the transgender community.