Black Trans Woman Bianca ‘Muffin’ Bankzy Murdered in Atlanta

Muffin Bankz

From Planettransgender comes word of the death of yet another young Black trans woman.   Bianca “Muffin” Bankz was 31 years old.     Bianca “Muffin” Bankz a trans woman of color was found murdered in her apartment Sunday, January 17, 2021. Details surrounding her death are murky, but friends say but that her life was taken […]

Trans Teen Bonaire “Bonnie” Black Died in Atlanta on New Years Eve 2020

Bonaire Bonnie Black

Bonnie was born in Savannah and moved to Atlanta at age 17 to find her way in the world. Being misgendered and deadnamed in her obituary perhaps hints at why she made that decision. She spent two years working to find housing and employment with the support of Covenant House.  On December 31, she was […]

Black Trans Woman Dominique Jackson Shot to Death in Mississippi

Her name was Dominique Jackson. She was 30 years old when she was murdered by gunshot in Jackson, Mississippi. According to WJAF (note: misgendering and deadnaming at link.) [She]was shot and killed Monday, January 25, 2021. The shooting happened just after 9:30 p.m. on Rose Street at Grand Avenue. According to investigators, a vehicle struck […]

Pennsylvania’s Transgender Community Responds to Dr. Rachel Levine’s Pick for the Biden Administration

Rachel_Levine_Pennsylvania

“Thank you, Dr. Levine.”   When I first heard about that President-elect Biden has selected PA Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine to be  assistant secretary of health, I smiled. She’s been the embodiment of leadership throughout the pandemic in Pennsylvania and has many pre-pandemic accomplishments. She’s maintained dignity, calm, and adherence to science while navigating […]

21-Year-Old Trans Man Shot to Death in Puerto Rico

Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín

On January 9, 2021, a Latinx trans man, Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín, was murdered Saturday, January 9, in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Damian Valentin was born and raised in San Juan.  He turned 21 in November of last year. His facebook page is filled with ruminations on sexism, politics, pop culture, and more.  Initial reports […]

28-year-old Black Trans Chicago Woman is First Reported Victim of Homicide in 2021

Black Trans Woman

From Brave Space Alliance in Chicago: Davarea Alexander, 28, also known as Tyianna, was shot to death in the early morning hours in the 800 block of West 75th, Ashburn neighborhood, South Side on January 6, 2021. Officers were called just before 5 a.m. to the 800 block of West 75th Street, where two people […]

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 […]

40-Year-Old Black Trans Woman Found Dead in Athens, Georgia Parking Lot

Kimberely Cope

Will Raphael Warnock and Jon Osoff say her name and speak out loudly about the myriad of oppressions Black trans women in Georgia experience? 

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 […]