Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Mar’Quis Jackson, known as MJ, turned 33 years old on December 12, 2022. He didn’t come home that night. Two days later, the Black trans man was found dead in the backyard of a residence in Nicetown, a Philadelphia neighborhood.

The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating the death of a man found with trauma to his head. 

According to police, officers responded to the 1800 block of Brunner Street around 4:16 p.m. on Wednesday. |

Authorities say Marquis Jackson, 33, was found in a backyard with an injury to his face. 

Medics pronounced him dead on scene at 4:23 p.m., per police. 

FOX29

His friend Sharree describes him as “full of life and love” saying he “would get the party started anywhere.” She added “Loved everybody. He wasn’t a person u can stay mad at.”

Sharree organized a memorial vigil for Mar’Quis on Sunday December 18 and is supporting his mother as she plans his funeral. She set up a GoFundMe to help with those expenses.

Philadelphia Police are investigating Mar’Quis death as a homicide. According to friends, a suspect was detained and released due to lack of evidence.

Mar’Quis celebrated his birthday on Monday and didn’t return home. His mother began calling his friends, then acquaintances. That’s when she reached the person living in the house attached to the backyard where his body was found. A family friend hurried over and identified him on Wednesday.

The family reports they were informed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. They were also reportedly told that Mar’Quis may have been dead for as long as 48 hours before he was found.

If you have information about this crime, you can dial or text 215.686.TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip via Crimestoppers.

How do you not report a body laying in your backyard for two days? Obviously someone knows something, but it will fall on family & friends along with LGBTQ community members to push the Philadelphia Police and District Attorney Larry Krasner to prioritize this investigation.

MJ was born and raised in South Carolina by his mother. They relocated to Philadelphia. Mar’Quis was interested in fashion, music, martial arts, and so much more. He supported the William Way Center, The Free Ky Project, and the Transgender Legal Defense Fund among other organizations. Sharree says he was well-known as a very proud out Black trans man with family support.

Mar’Quis is the 39th transgender person reported as a victim of fatal violence in 2022.  He is the 31st person of color from these neighbors respectively. He is the 24th Black trans person, the 3rd Black trans man and 6th trans man reported to die violently this year. To date the victims include 21 Black trans women, 4 Latinx trans women, 2 AAIPI trans women, 1 Native/Indigenous person, 2 white trans women, 3 Black trans man and 3 white trans men. The youngest was 15, the oldest was 50. Twelve were 25 or younger. Their deaths come on the heels of 2021, the most violent year in recorded history with the deaths of 57 trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people in the United States alone.

Mar’Quis is the fifth Pennsylvanian trans neighbor reported dead in 2022 and the second from Philadelphia.

Rest in power, Mar’Quis. You deserved to celebrate many more birthdays with your friends and family. You deserved more respect in death than these folx gave you. I hope knowing your mother was looking for you gives you peace. I am sorry we failed to create a safer world for you.

May your memory be a revolution.

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This is our list of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming neighbors who have been victims of the campaign of terror in 2022. Please do not copy or share this list without attribution.  

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1. Amäriey Lèį (Myara) – Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. January 1, 2022. Age 20. 
2. Duval Princess – Jacksonville, Florida. January 2, 2022. Age 24.
3. Naomie Skinner – Detroit, Michigan, February 12, 2022. Age 25.
4. Cypress Ramos – Lubbock, Texas, February 13, 2022. Age 21.
5. Paloma Velasquez – Houston, Texas, February 26, 2022. Age 29.
6. Matthew Spampinato – New Castle, Delaware, February 9, 2022. Age 21.
7. Tatiana LaBelle – Chicago, Illinois, March 18, 2022. Age 33.
8. Kathryn Newhouse – Canton, Georgia, March 19, 2022. Age 19.
9. Kesha Webster – Jackson, Mississippi, March 26, 2022. Age 24.
10. Miia Love Parker – Chester, Pennsylvania, April 1, 2022. Age 25.
11. Ariyanna Mitchell – Hampton, Virginia, April 2, 2022. Age 17.
12. Fern Feather – Morristown, Vermont, April 12, 2022. Age 29.
13. Ray Muscat – Clarkston, Michigan, May 8, 2022. Age 24.
14. Nedra Sequence Moss – Opa-locka, Florida, May 14, 2022. Age 50.
15. Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway aka “Sid” – Albany, New York, May 31, 2022. Age 30.
16. Sasha Mason – Zebulon, North Carolina, May 13, 2022. Age 45.
17. Brazil Johnson – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 15, 2022. Age 28.
18. Shawmayné Marie McClam – Gulfport, Mississippi, June 21, 2022. Age 27.
19. Kitty Monroe – Memphis, Tennessee, June 29, 2022. Age unknown.
20. Martasia Richmond – Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 2022, Age 30.
21. Toi Davis – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 16, 2022. Age 34.
22. Keshia Chanel Geter – Augusta, Georgia, July 20, 2022. Age 26.
23. Cherry Bush – Sylmar, Los Angeles, California, July 6, 2022. Age 48.
24. Hayden Davis – Detroit, Michigan, July 25, 2022. Age 28.
25. Marisela Castro – Houston, Texas, July 29, 2022. Age 39.
26. Dee Dee Kandii Redd – Kansas City, Missouri, July 24. Age 29.
27. Maddie L. Hofmann – Malvern, Pennsylvania, May 19, 2022. Age 47.
28. Jasper Aaron Lynch – McLean, Virginia, July 7, 2022. Age 26.
29. Dede Ricks – Detroit, Michigan, August 27, 2022. Age 33.
30. Regina Mya Allen – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 29, 2022. Age 35.
31. Acey D. Morrison – Rapids City, South Dakota, August 21, 2022. Age 30.
32. Semaj Billingslea – Jacksonville, Florida, September 21, 2022. Age 33.
33. Tiffany Banks – Miami, Florida, October 1, 2022. Age 25.
34. Ace Scott – Kansas City, Kansas, April 15, 2022. Age 15.
35. Diamond Jackson-McDonald – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 24, 2022. Age 27.
36. Kelly Loving – Colorado Springs, Colorado, November 20, 2022. Age 40.
37. Daniel Aston – Colorado Springs, Colorado, November 20, 2022. Age 28.
38. Day Rodas – Malibu, California, December 1, 2022. Age 27.
39. Mar’Quis ‘MJ’ Jackson – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 14, 2022. Age 33.