Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Another tragic loss, this time from Dallas. A 22-year-old trans woman of color, known as Ms. Shade, was identified this week after her body was found in late July. From Lone Star Q:

On Monday, police identified the body of Shade Schuler, which they found July 29 in a vacant field just west of 5600 Riverside Drive, near the Medical District. Schuler’s body was badly decomposed, according to police, and it took them nearly two weeks to identify her.

According to DPD, Schuler was wearing a blue and white cotton tube top with straps, blue shorts and black Nike flip flops. She was also wearing a black wig and sunglasses. Schuler had false fingernails with what appeared to be diamond studs on them with pink tips, DPD said.

Again, I ask you know to think about the big picture, the story of the lives of over a dozen trans women who are part of this horrifying trend. There is some imprecision in the numbers – some will say 11, others 12 and some 13. My list includes two caucasian trans women. But just think about the fact that we quibble over numbers rather than the trend, the data over the lives (and deaths.) We should be turning to Gay Inc and saying “WTF are you doing about this?” Where is the funding to support the work by trans women of color on the ground?

Papi Edwards, 20, Louisville, January 9

Lamia Beard, 30, Norfolk on January 17

Ty Underwood, 24, Tyler TX on January 26

Yazmin Vash Payne, 33, LA on January 31

Taja de Jesus, 36, San Fran February 1

Penny Proud, 21, New Orleans February 10

Bri Golec, 22, Akron on February 13

Kristina Grant Infiniti, 47, Miami on February 15

London Chanel, 21, Philadelphia on May 18

Mercedes Williamson, 17, Alabama on May 30

India Clarke, 25, Tampa on July 22

K.C. Haggard, 66, Fresno on July 23

Amber Monroe, 20, Detroit on August 8

Ms. Shade Schuler, 22, Dallas, date of death unknown

“Several of us spent time verifying she was trans and trying to learn more this afternoon and evening,” Gaither wrote on Facebook Tuesday night. “Her name was Ms. Shade, and she was only 22 years old. … Our hearts and thoughts are with her family and friends who now must confront this unfortunate taking of life. May we find space in our hearts to celebrate her time with us and the lives she touched. May we find inspiration in this loss to work together, trans and cis alike, to end the violence that has taken so many of our trans siblings from us far too soon.”