Guilty Verdict for Local Woman Harassing Black Trans Teen and Her Family

This morning, a magistrate judge ruled that local woman Darian Balcom was guilty of harassment after erecting a 9-foot billboard in her backyard. The sign read ‘Transing is Abuse and Homophobia’ and Balcom direct the sign in to the window of a 15-year-old Black trans teen living next door with her multiracial, queer family. , […]

Sometimes I Flinch

Earlier in the month, I had a little Facebook spat with another woman in a local progressive women’s group. She objected to my framing of the killing of Sean Hake and we went back and forth for a while. I had the impression she was connected to  law enforcement officer and was taking my analysis […]

Trans Woman of Color Mercedes Successful, 32, Murdered in Florida

Mercedes Successful

She was 32 years old which puts her among the older victims of the epidemic violence against transgender women  (and men) in our society. But still 32 is utterly young to lose your life. Mercedes Successful was murdered, the 11th person this year alone. Successful was born in Kingston, Jamaica and represented that country in […]

Arrest in the Murder of 25 Year Old Trans Woman India Clarke

India Clarke

India Clark’s friend Charles Thompson has mixed feelings about the arrest in the murder of his 25-year-old trans woman friend. “I’m not glad, because (India’s) gone,” he said. “But I’m glad they did investigate it and her life mattered enough for them to try to find who harmed her.” According to the Tampa Bay Times, […]

Follow Up on the Vigil for Omar Islam

Omar Islam, murder

I was unable to attend the vigil last night because I’m sick and I regret that quite a bit. So I’ve pieced together reports on the vigil. My understanding is that this is not a hate crime, there was no motive connected to Omar as an individual or who he was – he was just […]