Remembering Jamie Lee Hamilton
Dear Community Members ... As you may know, after a short, valiant battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones, the legendary Jamie Lee Hamilton died on December 23, 2019, at Cottage Hospice in Vancouver.
You may know Jamie Lee from her tireless, life-long dedication to fighting for the rights of Indigenous people, sex workers, LGBT2SQ+ folks, and low-income residents of Vancouver. Jamie Lee was a proud Trans, Two-Spirit, and Métis Cree woman. She was a professional sex worker and advocate for almost 50 years. She co-founded (with Becki Ross) Canada’s first and only memorial for sex workers in her beloved West End.
Years earlier, Jamie Lee had been one of the first to ring the alarm bell to police and media about women going missing, and being murdered, from the city’s Downtown Eastside.
She was an ingenious entrepreneur, fund-raiser, and influencer. Jamie Lee operated numerous community-based enterprises for trans and kink members, including Rainbow’s End, Queen’s Cross and Forbidden City. In 1996 she was the first Trans woman to run for political office.
She leaves behind a rich network of treasured kin, admirers, and political comrades.
The event will take place on January 25th at 2:00 p.m at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, (1130 Jervis St, West End, Vancouver).
We hope you can attend.
A group of us have started this GoFundMe campaign to help pay for Jamie Lee’s Celebration of Life service and associated costs. Consider donating if you can, as any amount will truly help.
We seek to raise $5,000 by January 20th. If we exceed our goal, additional funds will be donated to two of Jamie Lee's favourite causes, Warriors Against Violence and Out In Schools.
It would mean a lot if you could share this memorial service fundraiser with others you know who may also be able to help.
Thank you so much for your consideration,
Fund Administrators
Laura McDiarmid
&
Dr. Becki Ross