Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

The Crime

As has been noted, a 26 year old white trans man, Jean Thomas Butchart was fatally shot in a Belleville, Michigan mobile home park on August 4, 2023.

According to the Macomb Daily:

Matthew Torrey Tiggs,22, is charged in a crime spree that began in the Van Buren Estates mobile home park. He is accused in the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old person; the non-fatal shooting of a 47-year-old man; and the assault of a 45-year-old man, all of Van Buren Township.

The victim’s name was clarified by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Thursday. After first using a name given to the person at birth, officials in a release issued Thursday afternoon stated the dead man’s name was Jean Butchart. This came after numerous loved ones representing the family contacted The Macomb Daily to say he was a transgender male who identified as Jean and was in the process of legally changing his name when he died. An obituary published on the Nie Family Funeral Home of Ann Arbor’s website Wednesday said he was part of a family with two sisters and was working toward a career in education.

Honoring Jean Thomas

Jean had two sisters and had completed an Environmental Studies BS and was working professionally in managing water.  His obituary reads that “His love of the natural world extended to a love of camping, foraging, gardening, and mushroom-hunting, earning him the affectionate nickname “Nature Boy” among his many friends.” Recently, Jean was planning to return to school to earn a degree in science education.

In any case, Jean’s death just recently came to attention of those who track the lists. It was heartening to read that his friends and family advocated so strongly for him in the media reporting. One imagines he was surrounded by loving and accepting support system while he lived as well. Jean’s mother, Amy Butchart, described him as “a well-loved person and unofficial leader in the local trans community.” Note that the media reports use Jean Thomas’ name assigned at birth and misgender him.

Jean Thomas’ was shot at point blanker range in his head. The murderer fired the weapon multiple times. And then committed other murders.

At this time, Jean Thomas is the sixth trans masculine victim in 2023. He is the 39 victim of fatal violence reported in the US. All six trans men victims were under 30. Nearly 75% of the total victims were under the age of 30. Based on the available information, we are losing a trans person every 8.5 days in the United States this year. I’m sure that’s vastly under reported. Even Jean Thomas’ death while well documented and with a supportive family, even then we still didn’t know until this week.

Earlier this week, we honored the neighbors lost to violence as part of the Trans Day of Remembrance. I’m sad, so very sad, to craft yet another memorial just a few days later. Without a doubt, I’m sure that there will be others. In 2022, I wrote 40 memorials. As of today, I’ve written 39 this year as of November 22, 2023.

It adds an especial somber note to the holiday.

Rest in power, Jean Thomas. Undoubtedly your legacy weaves its way through your community, in the air and the water and the stories. Thank you for helping to create a healthier and safer environment for us. I am so sorry we did not create a safer world for you to thrive and grow older.

May your memory be a revolution.

This is our list

This is our list of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming neighbors who have been victims of the campaign of terror in 2023. Please do not copy, modify, or share this list without attribution.

1. Jasmine ‘Star’ Mack – District of Columbia, January 7, 2023. Age 36.
2. KC Johnson – Wilmington, North Carolina, January 13, 2023. Age 27.
3. Tortuguita – Weelaunee Forest, Georgia, January 18, 2023. Age 26.
4. Unique Banks – Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 2023. Age 21.
5. Zachee Imanitwitaho – Louisville, Kentucky, February 3, 2023. Age 26.
6. Maria Jose Rivera Rivera – Houston, Texas, January 21, 2023. Age 22.
7. Cashay Henderson – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 27, 2023. Age 31.
8. Tasiyah ‘Siyah’ Woodland – Mechanicsville, Maryland, March 24, 2023. Age 18.
9. Ashley Burton – Atlanta, Georgia, April 11, 2023. Age 37.
10. Rasheeda Williams – Atlanta, Georgia, April 18, 2023. Age 35.
11. Banko Brown – San Francisco, California, April 27, 2023. Age 24.
12. Ashia Davis – Detroit, Michigan, June 2, 2023. Age 34
13. Chanell Perez Ortiz – Carolina, Puerto Rico, June 25, 2023. Age 29.
14. Jacob Williamson – Pageland, South Carolina, July 4, 2023, Age 18.
15. Camdyn Rider – Winter Haven, Florida, July 21, 2023. Age 21.
16. Kylie Monali – Riverside, California, September 7, 2022, Reported September 2023.
17. DéVonnie J’Rae Johnson – Los Angeles, California, August 7, 2023. Age 27.
18. Thomas ‘Tom-Tom’ Robinson – Calumet, Indiana, August 17, 2023. Age 28.
19. Charm Wilson – Cleveland, Ohio, September 8, 2023. Age 32.
20. Bre’Asia Bankz – Arizona, September 5, 2023. Age 27.
21. Alexa Sokova – Palm Bay, Florida, September 5, 2023. Age 30.
22. YOKO – New Orleans Louisiana, September 19, 2023. Age 30.
23. Codii Lawrence – Weirton, West Virginia, September 5, 2023. Age 25.
24. Unidentified Person – Dallas, Texas,. July 2023. Age unknown
25. Dolli Goins – Eugene, Oregon, August 10, 2023. Age 27.
26. Luis Ángel Díaz Castro – San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 12, 2023. Age 22.
27. Thaddeus ‘Tad’ Keegan Bradley – Mendocino, California, Sept 21st, 2021. Reported April 27, 2023.
28. Sherlyn Marjorie – Albuquerque, Nex Mexico, September 17, 2023. Age 35.
29. Chyna Long – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 8, 2023. Age 20.
30. Skylar Harrison – Washington, DC, October 2, 2023. Age 30.
31. A’Nee Johnson – Washington, DC, October 14, 2023. Age 30.
32. Dominic Palace Dupree – Chicago, Illinois, October 13, 2023. Age 25.
33. Lisa Love -Chicago, Illinois, October19, 2023. Age 35.
34. Lovely Page – Chicago, Illinois, August 16, 2023. Age 54.
35. London Price – Miami, Florida, October 23, 2023. Age 26.
36. LaKendra Andrews – Dallas, Texas, April 29, 2023. Age 26.
37. Kejuan Richardson – Toledo, Ohio, November 14, 2023. Age 21.
38. Amiri Jean Richardson – Toledo, Ohio, November 14, 2023. Age 21.
39. Jean Thomas Butchart – Belleville, Michigan, August 4, 2023. Age 26.