2020 – In Memoriam

Trans lives

My list of transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary neighbors who have lost their lives to violent deaths in the US during 2020. Please do not copy this post without attribution. Dustin Parker – McAlester, Oklahoma. January 1, 2020. Age 25. Alexa Negron Luciano – Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. February 24, 2020. Age 29. Yampi Mendez Arocho – Moca, […]

2021 – In Memoriam

Trans lives

Our list of transgender, gender, and non-binary neighbors lost to violence in 2021. Please do not copy or share this list without attribution. Tyianna Davarea Alexandra — Chicago, Illinois. January 6, 2021. Age 28. Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín — Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. January 9, 2021. Age 21. Dominique Jackson — Jackson, Mississippi. January 25, 2021. Age […]

25 Year Old Black Trans Woman Shot to Death in Chicago

Brianna Ulmer Hamilton

A 25-year-old Black trans Chicago woman is the latest victim of the ongoing campaign of terror targeting the trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming community. Her name was Brianna Ulmer, also known as Briana Hamilton and Brinasty. She was shot to death in the early morning hours in the 7800 block of South Bishop, Auburn/Gresham neighborhood, […]

Disaya Monaee Smith, Black Trans Woman, Murdered near Chicago

Disaya Monaee, a 32-year-old Black transgender woman was fatally shot near Chicago, Illinois on September 6. Disaya was from Chicago, but died about 25 miles away in the village of Dolton, Illinois. Disaya grew up in the Near North Side neighborhood of Chicago. Officers were sent to the Prestige Inn and Suites at 1335 E. Sibley Blvd. […]

Shooting Death of Young Latina Trans Woman Brings 2020 Toll to 44 Known Deaths

Transgender Epidemic Violence

A Latina transgender woman in her early 20’s was shot to death on December 26 in the Bronx borough of New York City. She was shot in the back of her head and died at the scene according to officers responding to the 911 call. Her name was Alexandria Winchester. The Ali Forney Center in […]

25-Year-Old Black Trans Woman Murdered on Christmas Day in Chicago

Black Trans Woman Chicago

Just a week after writing about the ugly shooting death of a 19-year-old Black gender nonconforming young adult while they were at a Christmas party, I was hopeful there would be no more deaths to cover in 2020. I was wrong about that and in a very terrible way. Another violent murder of a young […]

Black Gender Nonconforming Teen Shot to Death in Alabama

Jaheim Pugh Bella

This is complicated story about identity, but it is a story that must be shared within that complexity because it also reflects the consequences of intolerance and hate in our society. The victim who was murdered in this story was a 19 year old young adult who was identified by friends as using both he/him […]

Trans Woman Kimberly Susan Fial, 55, Murdered in a Mass Stabbing in San Jose

Kimberly Fial Murder

On November 22, 2020, a horrific crime took the life of 55-year-old white trans woman, Kimberly Susan Fial. She was volunteering at a local homeless shelter in Grace Baptist Church in San Jose, California when she and four other staff/volunteers were stabbed by a resident of the shelter. Kim and one other person died from […]

Black Trans Woman Fendi Mon’ezah “Peaches” Armstrong Found Dead in Georgia

Fendi Mon'ezah Peaches Armstrong

On November 12, 2020 the body of Fendi Mon’ezah Armstrong was discovered in a motel room near Lithonia, Georgia. Fendi was a 39-year-old Black trans woman. She was deceased when police arrived. Police have not yet released any information.  Here’s a link to the initial reporting. Please note that it does misgender and deadname Fendi. […]

Black Trans Woman Skylar Heath Dies Under Suspicious Circumstances in Miami

Skylar Heath Black Trans Woman

Skylar Heath was 20 years old when she lost her life on November 4, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Misgendering by media, law enforcement, and in her obituary obscured her death and her lived experiences as a young Black trans woman. From PlanetTransgender Miami-Dade police found Skylar Heath in the vicinity of NW 14 Court and […]