Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

The Crime

Sasha Williams was a 36 year old Black trans woman who was killed in Las Vegas on January 26, 2024. Sadly, it took months to confirm her identity. The Las Vegas Review Journal published a good local story last week.

On Jan. 26, at about 10:45 a.m., LVMPD Communications received a report of a stabbing in the 3700 block of Palos Verdes Street near Twain Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers located a victim suffering from apparent stab wounds. She was transported to a local hospital. Sasha died at the hospital.

Police identified and apprehended the 20 year old suspect who was booked into the Clark County Detention Center for open murder with a deadly weapon.

The District Attorney’s office will determine if he’s fit to stand trial.

Honoring Sasha

Williams was born and raised by a single father in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was her parents’ only child, her aunt told the Las Vegas Review Journal. She came out as a trans woman to her aunt at age 16. She eventually had support from her family.

Williams enrolled in Job Corps, a federal program that helps young adults launch careers, and obtained a GED, said Thornton, who described her as a “very smart kid; very smart.”

According to her socials, Sasha identified as a bisexual trans woman. She was involved in thee Vegas ballroom scene, adored her dogs, and was interested in fashion design. Her best friend, David Leach, met Sasha in Vegas in 2021.

Sasha identified as multiracial, that was an important part of her identity.

However, Sasha struggled. She was incarcerated in a men’s prison which did damage to her sense of self,/ Leach described her response as reclaiming her female identity. Typically when media reference the criminal history of the victim, it is not for positive reasons. In this case, I think David is describing the multiple systems that failed Sasha and even harmed her. She was spiraling at the end, but there were many points along her journey where compassion, respect, and decency could have had an impact for the good.

More recently, Leach traveled to Europe for a residency. Sasha decompensated/. Upon his return, he and Sasha’s aunt tried to get here connected with supports, but they say Sasha was spiraling into drug and “darkness” after multiple losses, including her beloved dogs and her home.

The Context

Sasha Williams is the 14th person whose death is recorded in 2024. She is the eighth trans woman on this list, the 10th trans person. of color, the second Black trans woman, and the fourth Black trans person.

Since 2020, we’ve reported on the deaths of 7 people with ties to North Carolina.

Sasha was killed in January, but we are just confirming details about the incident and her life. I feel so terribly bad thinking about her pain and isolation. It is a gift that her family and friends are giving us a glimpse into her life, a glimpse into what we must do better to keep the next Sasha safe.

Rest in power, Sasha. Your dreams and ambition lit up the world, a world not prepared to support and cherish you. You fought for your life until the very end. I know you deserved so much better.

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 2024. Please do not copy, modify, or share this list without attribution.

1. Kitty Monroe – January 1, 2024. Phoenix, Arizona. Age 43.
2. Nex Benedict – February 8, 2024. Owasso, Oklahoma. Age 16.
3. Righteous Torrence ‘T K’ Chevy Hill – February 29, Atlanta. Georgia. Age 35.
4. Reyna Hernandez – Between Feb 28 and March 28, location TBD. Age 54.
5. Diamond Cherish Brigman – March 16, 2024, Houston, Texas. Age 36.
6. Alex Franco – March 19, 2024. Salt Lake City, Utah. Age 21.
7. Meraxes Medina – March 19, 2024, Los Angeles, California. Age 24.
8. Cecilia Gentili – February 6, 2024, New YorkCity, New York. Age 52.
9. Ryan Zimmerman – Sept 2015, Columbus OH Age 21 Murdered 2016, Identified 2020, reported 2024.
10. Lagend Billions aka Tee Arnold – April 7, 2024, Miami, Ohio. Age 36.
11. África Parrilla García – February 2, 2024, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Age 25.
12. Nevaeh ‘River’ Goddard – April 5, 2024,. Stow, Massachusetts. Age 17,
13. Andrea Doria Dos Passos – April 22, 2024, Miami, Florida. Age 37.
14. Sasha Williams – January 26, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada. Age 36.