The Crisis of Anti-Trans Violence

In 2019, we faced a national crisis: trans people, particularly young black trans women, are facing disproportionate violence. At least twenty-two transgender and gender non-conforming people were tragically murdered this year, but that number could be even higher: often stories go unreported or victims aren’t identified as trans. “It is a crisis,” Mara Keisling, the Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), told Georgia Voice.  “It is a public health emergency. It is a social justice emergency.” Most of these victims were young black women—and that’s no coincidence. According the Keisling, the amalgamation of multiple stigmatized and marginalized identities can expose these individuals to higher likelihoods of violence.

And it’s not just fatal, murderous violence this community has to fear: the HIV epidemic, homelessness, poverty, and harassment/non-fatal violence from transphobes and police (both in custody and on the streets) also threaten transgender livelihood. As the year ends and we move into the new decade, Keisling says this epidemic needs to be addressed through federal policy. “We need to be training law enforcement better, and we need to be repealing or amending the FEFTA and SOSTA, Congressional bills meant to prevent sex trafficking that shut down all the websites that sex workers use to make their jobs safer,” she said. “This puts people back on the streets and back in danger.”

More than anything, the federal government just needs to address and study the problem, so that organizations like NCTE can understand the issue better and argue for and find solutions easier.

As we reminisce on the last year, we remember and honor the 22 known transgender/gender non-conforming people lost in 2019:

Dana Martin, 31, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 6. “She was a person that was loved by many,” said Alabama-based trans advocate Daroneshia Duncan-Boyd.

Jazzaline Ware, 34, was a black transgender woman found dead in her Memphis apartment on March 25. She is remembered fondly as a “beloved friend” by the Transgender Law Center.

Ashanti Carmon, 27, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Maryland on March 30. “Until I leave this Earth, I’m going to continue on loving her in my heart, body, and soul,” her fiancé Philip Williams said of her passing.

Claire Legato, 21, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in the head in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 15 and died on May 15. She’s remembered by friends as a peacekeeper and gifted musician.

Muhlaysia Booker, 23, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Dallas on May 18. Such a beautiful spirit taken too soon,” one person mourned on social media. “She lived her life and loved all of who she was.”

Michelle ‘Tamika’ Washington, 40, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Philadelphia on May 19. She’s remembered as “a brilliant and outgoing member of Philadelphia’s transgender community,” by executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs Amber Hikes.

Paris Cameron, 20, was a black transgender woman among three individuals killed in a shooting in Detroit on May 25. Prosecutors allege she and the two gay men killed alongside her were directly targeted for being LGBTQ.

Chynal Lindsey, 26, was a black transgender woman found dead in Dallas with signs of “homicidal violence” on June 1. She’s remembered on social media as “smiling” and “a person I had never seen mad.”

Chanel Scurlock, 23, was a black transgender woman found fatally shot in North Carolina on June 6. “You [lived] your life as you wanted,” a friend wrote on Facebook. “I’m proud of you for being unapologetically correct about your feelings and expectations of YOU.”

Zoe Spears, 23, was a black transgender woman found with signs of trauma in Maryland on June 13. “She was my daughter—very bright and very full of life,” transgender advocate ruby Corado remembers her.

Brooklyn Lindsey, 32, was a black transgender woman found dead with obvious signs of trauma in Missouri on June 25. “I love you,” a friend wrote on Twitter. “I shall live on for you. Rest in power, sista.”

Denali Berries Stuckey, 32, was a black transgender woman found fatally shot in South Carolina on July 20. “I love my best friend,” her cousin wrote on Facebook. “We were like brother and sister.”

Tracy Single, 22, was a black transgender woman killed in Houston on July 30 in a vicious house fire. “You were taken away from us way too soon,” said trans advocate Monica Roberts of her passing.

Bubba Walker, 55, was a black transgender woman killed in North Carolina in late July. She’s remembered as “very kind” and “fun to be around.”

Kiki Fantroy, 21, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Miami on July 31. She’s remembered as having “a heart of gold” and being “a very loving person” by her mother.

Jordan Cofer, 22, was a transgender man killed in the Dayton mass shooting on August 4. He was out to only a handful of friends and is remembered by a friend as “a true saint.”

Pebbles LaDime “Dime” Doe, 24, was a black transgender woman killed in South Carolina on August 4. She’s remembered by family as “the best to be around” with a “bright personality.”

Bailey Reeves, 17, was a black transgender teen fatally shot in Maryland on September 2. She’s remembered as someone “who lived her life to the fullest.”

Bee Love Slater, 23, was killed inside a burned car in Florida on September 4. She’s remembered by friend Kenard Wade as having “a really, really sweet heart.”

Ja’leyah Jamar, 30, was a black gender non-conforming person killed by gunshot in Kansas on September 13. They are survived by their 5-year-old daughter, Ja’Mya.

Itali Marlowe, 29, was a black transgender woman found shot in Houston on September 20. “You deserved to live a full and robust life surrounded by people who embraced and celebrated your real self,” columnist Sue Kerr wrote her.

Brianna “BB” Hill, 30, was a black transgender woman fatally shot in Kansas City on October 14. She’s remembered as a beloved member of her community and a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.