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Content Note: Graphic descriptions of violence, sexual assault, brutal murder of a trans teen. Today, prosecutors in the trial of the murder and dismemberment of 14 year old trans girl Pauly Likens successfully added two charges – Involuntary Deviant Intercourse with a minor and a general homicide charge. Watkins had been previously charged with murder, […]
Please note that while we can confirm Kenji identified as trans, there are conflicting reports on whether she identified as a trans person or a trans woman or some other identity. We have opted to use the most neutral language possible to highlight Kenji’s story. We will make updates as they are available. Kenji Spurgeon, […]
The Researchers Investigating Missing, Murdered, Unclaimed, and Unidentified Trans and Queer Neighbors Around the World Recently, we launched a mini-series exploring the work of tracking and reporting anti-trans violence. You can read the initial post The Researchers: A Closer Look at the Search for Missing and Murdered Trans and Queer People I created a Q&A […]
Since spring 2013, I have been writing memorials for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming (TGNC) neighbors whose lives have been lost to violence. The relentless persistence of this violence is akin to a terror campaign. While I’ve frequently shared the story of how I started doing this work, I’ve less often talked about “the work” […]
The Crime My recent post about the violent deaths of 14 trans youth brought to my attention a young Black trans man, Morgan Moore. At 17 years of age, Morgan was killed by his parents through neglect, including hunger, horrific living conditions, and a lack of medical care. That’s filicide. A parent, or parents, killing […]
According to documents obtained by media outlets, the man who chose to murder Pauly claimed he had met someone on Grindr, using the app to meet up with an individual described to match the girl per KDKA – TV and they had ‘sexual contact.’ ‘Sexual contact’ between a 29 year old man and a 14 year […]
The Crime A beloved was recently murdered on June 22 by a former romantic partner in Minnesota. Liara Kaylee Tsai, 35, was killed in her home, bundled into a mattress and bedding, then placed in her vehicle. From The Advocate. Olmsted County sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene of the single-vehicle accident and found [Margot] […]
The Crime A Black trans woman was shot and killed last week in an Atlanta suburb. Shannon Boswell, 30, was then run over by a car. Officials assumed Shannon was the victim of a hit and run. Friends and family reported the shooting to law enforcement, but they only responded when the medical examiner’s report […]
I am holding space tonight for this young community member and neighbor whose life was taken in a brutal manner. Pauly Likens was from Sharon, PA. She liked to wear fake nails and/or polish. She likely died on June 22 or 23. Sharon is about 75 miles from my home in Pittsburgh. I have been […]
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure to participate in the Pittsburgh Dyke March, founded in 2006 by Eli Kuti and friends. I was at the first march in 2006 and many others. A few years I volunteered. These are my own posts reflecting on the march, not a formal archive. And certainly not comprehensive. […]
