Funeral Plans/Memorial Events for Cemia Dove (Cemia Acoff) on Monday May 6, 2013

Jacob Nash of the Cleveland Transgender Community Outreach Committee  has graciously kept our blog in the loop on the community’s response to Cemia Acoff’s death.  Ce Ce’s funeral will be at Temple Baptist Church 1862 Noble Rd., East Cleveland, Ohio with calling hours at 10 with the funeral to follow at 10:30am. This all happens […]

Arrest Made in Cemia Acoff Murder; Media Continues Transphobic Coverage

Cleveland Transgender

It is my understanding that the Cleveland Plain Dealer has agreed to meet with GLAAD and local trans activists to discuss their coverage of the murder of Cemia Acoff. Then, last night, I saw this piece which actually has some good news – the FBI working with local police have made an arrest in the […]

Update from Cleveland – Rally for Cemia Acoff

I am simply horrified to report that the Cleveland Plains Dealer has yet to eliminate the transphobic and hateful content in their reporting on the murder of 20 year old Cemia Acoff (also known as Ce Ce Dove.)  It is simply unbelievable, but it is important to take note of this degree of institutionalized hate. […]

HER Name Is Cemia!!!

There have been numerous reports of a body found in a retention pond near Cleveland, Ohio. As if that fact, in and of itself, isn’t terrible enough, the media reporting this news have completely and utterly insensitive and irresponsible. The woman found was identified as Cemia, or Ce Ce, or Ci Ci. She was a […]

GLAAD Published My Essay for the Trans Day of Remembrance

I was asked to write this piece for GLAAD in honor of the Trans Day of Remembrance – Sue For ten years, I have been documenting violence against the trans community by writing memorial posts on my blog, Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents. While my work overlaps with the work of Transgender Day of Remembrance volunteers, I am […]

The Time Where I Am Named One of 12 People of the Year By The Advocate Magazine

Blogging and activism have led me in many directions these past decades, but I never imagined they would lead me to a list of 12 ‘People of the Year’ alongside Beyoncé and Ukrainian President Zelensky. And that is exactly what just happened with the November issues of The Advocate. The Advocate, a prestigious national publication […]

2013 – In Memoriam

Trans lives

My list from 2013 is partial. Cemia Acoff known as CeCe Dove was found on April 17 in Cleveland. Diamond Williams was found in July in Philadelphia. Betty Janet Skinner, 52, was murdered in her bedroom in Cleveland in December. Brittany-Nicole Kidd-Stergis, 22, was also murdered in Cleveland in December.i

Body of 19-year-old Chicago Black Trans Woman Found in June 2020, Finally Identified in April 2021

On June 6, 2020, the body of an unidentified young Black trans person was found in an abandoned building at 7908 S Laflin in Chicago. Koko Nia Labeija was born 29 May 2001 in Chicago where she grew up. She attended Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School The school held a memorial event this past […]

Black Trans Woman Chynal Lindsey, 26, Slain in Dallas on First Day of Pride Month 2019

Chynal Lindsey Transgender

  Pride month begins with the tragic news of the discovery of the body of 26 year-old Chynal Lindsey in a Dallas lake. “Dallas police say a black, transgender woman whose body was pulled from White Rock Lake Saturday died of obvious homicidal violence.White Dallas police said a passerby called them at about 5:45 p.m. […]

Black Trans Woman Brandi Bledsoe, 32, Murdered in Cleveland

Brandi Bledsoe

It is with great sadness and anger that I read about the murder of 32 year old black trans woman, Brandi Bledsoe. Her body was discovered over the weekend near her Cleveland home.

Brandi had a job, a passion for art and the support of at least some of her family. Yet, she did not escape the cycle of unrelenting violence against trans women. She also did not escape being misgendered by police or the media, the final indignity that weaves it’s tentacle into almost all of these stories of the lives of our trans neighbors.

From Cleveland.com (note – they use her old name)

Bledsoe was found dead about 10 a.m. in the driveway behind a home on Drexel Avenue, near East 108th Street. 

She was wearing only underwear and had white plastic bags covering her head and both hands, according to police reports.

A 5-year-old boy discovered her body while riding bikes with his 12-year-old brother.  

Police also said she had head trauma. Cleveland police spokesman Jennifer Ciaccia said investigators will take her transgender status into consideration in the investigation. She said the investigation is in its early stages and it’s too early to determine of motive for Bledsoe’s death. 

No arrests have been made in the case.