Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

A 20-year-old trans woman from Mobile, Alabama was killed in a vehicle collision in April 2025. Her name was Haley Brook Terry.

According to official reports, her 2004 Ford F150 was struck by a 2005 Kenworth tractor-trailer. Her vehicle then collided with a 2018 Kenworth tractor-trailer. She died at the scene. There is little additional information on the incident, but no indication that Haley was to blame. It does seem odd there was no follow up to this incident.

I don’t know why her death was not noted in 2025, but again I think it has to do with the algorithms and suppression of information on social media.

Haley was born and raised in Mobile. Shegraduated from Evergreen Christian Academy and studied at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Haley had worked her way to an assistant manager position at a local McDonald’s while she was in school. Her obituary reflects the deep love and appreciation of her supportive family. She is survived by her parents and four siblings.

Hayley worked as a dedicated manager at McDonald’s, where she demonstrated her strong work ethic and leadership qualities. She approached every challenge with enthusiasm and grace, leaving a lasting impression on her colleagues and friends. She enjoyed collecting old coins, Funko Pops, Pokemon cards, McDonald’s Happy Meal toys, antique photographs and paintings. She loved Anime, Manga, reading books and shopping for scarves and shoes.

I include deaths like these because they are certainly violent, even if accidental. It is a mistake to silo the violent impact of anti-trans violence when the reality is that the rhetoric, politics, and social values wind through every aspect of our society. Haley was young, apparently accepted by her family, and had a job and educational trajectory. It would be easy to say she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, except media coverage deadnamed and misgendered her. That is not part of the experience of the vast majority of traffic fatalities.

To suggest a young trans teen growing up in Mobile, Alabama was immune from the dynamics of anti-trans violence is ridiculous. She was a little over ten when the virulent political rhetoric and legislation rained down on American trans folx, especially youth. Alabama passed monstrous legislation that barred her from using bathrooms, participating in sports as a college student, and worse.

When this young woman experienced a horrible death, she was misgendered an indignity in her final moments that few others endure. Stripping her of her identity at that precise moment is a culmination of the violence wasting through Alabama. The media makes a choice as does law enforcement in each incident. That choice to promote an inaccurate, factually wrong depiction of a victim, to choose bias and bigotry over fairness and accuracy, is a significant threat.

I’ve been writing memorials for 13 years. Rarely does someone scream “I am killing you for being a trans person” before they fell someone. The dynamics of transphobia can be much more subtle and nuanced, both leading up to and after the death of our neighbor. To suggest otherwise tells trans folx to simply shrink their lives and fit in to a binary gender dynamic that is not real and does not match their existence. Or our existence. Assimilation is a maladaptive coping mechanism, proven ineffective time and time again.

I’m not suggesting the driver of the first truck knew Haley was in her truck and intentionally decided to hit her. But that has happened. And in this case, we don’t know what put Haley at that place at the time. We do know Alabama was structured to prevent her from thriving and deprived her of dignity in her death. The space between those factors is measured in the lives of Haley and other trans folx in Alabama.

Haley Brook Terry is the 23rd trans person whose death we’ve memorialized in 2026. She is the third person whose death in a previous year was reported this year.

23 people are on this list. 15 of them are BIPOC trans siblings. 12 were Black, two were Latina, and one was Pasifika. Seven were white, the identity of one is unknown as of now. We talk a lot about disproportionate impact – here is the evidence.

At age 20, Hayley is the second youngest person on the 2026 list. Other deaths reported from Alabama this year include
La’Daijah Walters and Kalena ‘Peaches’ Croskey.

We reported on these deaths in previous years: 2025 Kaitoria ‘Kai’ Le’Cynthia Bankz In 2024, Tayy Dior Thomas and Cam Thompson. From 2020, Bella Pugh. In 2019, Dana Martin and in 2016, Jazz Alford. In 2015, a 17-year-old named Mercedes Williamson was brutally murdered.

Rest in power, Haley. Your life was ended far too soon. I hope the joy and enthusiasm you brought to your life continues to be a source of comfort for your friends and family. You deserved a lifetime of joy and love.

May your memory be a revolution.

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Deaths reported in 2026

These individuals are part of the trans community including transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and gender creative folx. Please do not share this content without attribution. Thank you

1. Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-Mccray – Petersburg, Virginia. March 13, 2026. Age 42.
2. Davonta Curtis – Chicago, Illinois. April 5, 2026. Age 32.
3. Dannielle Spillman – San Francisco, California. April 16, 2026. Age 74.
4. Aleanna Royal Belcher – Binghamton, New York. April 17, 2026. Age 31.
5. Lucas Redbeard Knapp – Candy Kitchen, Cibola County, New Mexico, April 18, 2026. Age 39.
6. Hailey Singleton – Dunnellton, Florida, May 5, 2026. Age 29.
7. Lanessa Rodriguez – Ft Pierce, Florida, April 28, 2026. Age 35.
8. Jade Roberts – Houston, Texas, January 2, 2026. Age 25.
9. Paris Harris – Dallas, Texas, April 17, 2026. Age 21.
10. Eryka Caldwell – New York, New York, May 17, 2026. Age 41.
11. Nathaniel Potts – Eldorado, Illinois, May 20, 2026. Age 16.
12. Persia Amarra Conway – Houston, Texas. Date unconfirmed. Found on May 26, 2026. Age 33.
13. Juniper Blessing – Seattle, Washington. May 8, 2026. Age 19.
14. Marlow Trottie – Alexandria, Louisiana. June 8, 2026. Age 35.
15. La’Daijah Walters – Mobile, Alabama. June 22, 2026. Age 32.
16. William ‘Ike’ Eickholt – Hastings, Minnesota. February 1, 2025. Age 74.
17. Kayonna Ankeny – Augusta, Georgia. February 5, 2023. Age 30.
18. Asia Williams – Baltimore, Maryland. June 23, 2026. Age 38.
19. Haley Brook Terry – Mobile, Alabama. April 6, 2025. Age 20.

Other Deaths

We are following these cases, but cannot confirm the details right now.

1. Daniella Analee Escobedo – Las Vegas, Nevada (unconfirmed), April 12, 2026. Age 34.
2. Name Unknown – Charlotte, North Carolina. Found on May 21, 2026. Date of death unknown. Age unknown.
3. Leia Trysiss Ali – Las Vegas, Nevada. May 24, 2026. Age 35.
4. Kalena ‘Peaches’ Croskey – Birmingham, Alabama. June 11, 2026. Age 35.