TWOC India Monroe Murdered on Dec 21 and We Just Found Out

India monroe trans

Less than 24 hours after learning about the first transgender person reported murdered this year comes word of a trans sister, India Monroe, who was murdered in December, but misgendered. From Mic.com A transgender Virginia resident known to friends as India Monroe was killed on Dec. 21 in Newport News, Virginia, though she was misgendered and […]

Storytelling is Solidarity #NaBloPoMo #TDOR

Trans Day of Remembrance 2016

Today, we acknowledge and commemorate the lives of our trans siblings & neighbors who have lost their lives to violence this past year via the Trans Day of Remembrance #TDOR. Since early 2013, I have tried diligently to write one blog post for each person so I can use a proper photo, use their lived […]

30 Year Old TWOC Noony Norwood of Richmond Murdered Over Weekend

30 year old Noony Norwood was shot to death in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, November 5, 2016. She died of her injuries the next morning. She is remembered with love by her friends and chosen family. ‘Noony’s energy always brightened the room. She cared about her community and always lifted up and supported her friends […]

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.

RIP Jazz Alford, Black Trans Woman Murdered in Alabama

Jazz Alford was 30 years old and a native of North Carolina. She was also a black trans woman discovered dead in a Birmingham, Alabama motel in late September. Alford was deliberately misgendered by police (and the media) as part of their investigation process.

Alford’s sister, Toya Milan, who is also a trans woman reached out to media to clarify Jazz’ true identity.

Police have arrested a 23-year-old man, Denzell Thomas for another shooting of a trans woman and he is now a suspect in the Alford case. The other victim survived and is hospitalized as she recovers from her injuries.

TWOC Crystal Edmonds Murdered in Baltimore

Crystal Edmonds Trans

Crystal Edmonds, 32, a trans woman of color who lived in Baltimore died Friday from gunshot wounds to the back of her head. Crystal is the 21st known transgender person to be murdered in 2016 in the United States. She is also the third person whose death I’ve blogged about this week and the second […]

Maine Trans Woman Found Dead in Reservoir

Lexxi Sironen

On the heels of learning about the brutal murder of T.T. in Chicago this past weekend, I was saddened to read more tragic news on the Transgriot blog. 43 year old Lexxi Sironen’s body was found floating in the Kennebec River on September 6 at 8:15 AM EDT near the water reservoir of the Brookfield […]

Trans Woman Murdered in Chicago on September 11 UPDATED

Trans Woman Murdered Chicago

Updated with T.T.’s full name. T.T. Saffore was 27 years old, according to her friends quoted in a Windy City Times story covering this crime. She was a hair stylist, enjoyed being around children and a support for other trans women in her neighborhood. She had family support. She is also the 20th known trans […]

Trans Woman Rae’Lynn Thomas, 28, of Columbus, Ohio Murdered By Mother’s Ex-Boyfriend

Rae'Lynn Thomas

Rae’Lynn was 28 years old. She was a performer and loved fashion. She transition at age 18, according to her family. And she was brutally murdered in cold blood by her mother’s ex-boyfriend who lived in the family home. From mic.com: Renee Thomas said her daughter transitioned 10 years ago. Rae’Lynn’s aunt, Shannon Thomas, said […]

Erykah Tijerina, 36, of El Paso Latest Trans Woman Murdered in the US

Erykah Tijerina was 36 years old. Her sisters describe her as “funny, giving and unapologetic.” Sadly, she is also the latest transgender neighbor to die a violent death in the United States. Her Facebook posts are filled with love and family and hopefulness. Erykah’s body was found Monday in her El Paso apartment complex. She […]