Rita Hester (born 30 November 1963) was a transgender African American woman who was murdered in Allston, MA on November 28, 1998. In response to her murder, an outpouring of community grief and anger led to a candlelight vigil held the following Friday (December 4) in which about 250 people participated. Her death also inspired the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and the Transgender Day of Remembrance.