2016: 27 transgender individuals were murdered, most of whom were trans women of color, making it the deadliest year on record for transgender people.
In the first 2 months of 2017 seven trans women of color have been murdered (updated: 29 trans individual as of December 2017), meaning that these are the trans women that we know about, since in death trans women are often misgendered and dead named. 2017 broke the 2016 record of most trans individuals murdered. In just the 9 days from February 19-27, three trans women of color were murdered in New Orleans alone.
The targeting, attacking, and murdering of transwomen is at epidemic levels, and in truth there are most likely more victims than reported in that the police and media both usually report the incorrect gender, and if the identity is known, they use the former (dead) name. So, these individuals not only face the higher threat of abuse, violence, attacks, and death, they are also disrespected in their death through the the refusal to acknowledge who they are.
This violence directed at a marginalized population is unacceptable, though I feel helpless in the fight for the lives of a persecuted population. I support and fight for the inclusion and rights of trans individuals in my roles as an educator and an activist; but I feel the pull to do more. In the face of this helplessness, I decided to honor these individuals not only by acknowledging their identities and saying their names, but by learning more of who they were and connecting with them through the rendering of their portraits. This is the very beginning of this process, and I do not know where this project will lead or what the final outcome of this project will be, but for now, I will draw each of these (updated) 29 beautiful, passionate women who had their lives violently ended; and if (or unfortunately is it probably more accurate to say when) any other trans individuals are murdered, I will say their name, draw their likeness, and continue to work for the day that no more individuals will be added to this list.
- Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28
- Mesha Caldwell, 41
- Sean Hake, 23
- Sean Hake, 23 (Transman - Killed by police while trying to harm himself)
- JoJo Striker, 23
- Keke Collier, 24
- Chyna Gibson, 31
- Ciara McElveen, 21
- Jaquarrius Holland, 18
- Alphonza Watson, 38
- Chay Reed, 28
- Kenneth/Brenda Bostick, 59 (mixed reports, but identified as Trans during part of his/her life)
- Sherrell Faulkner, 46
- Kenne McFadden, 27
- Kendra Maria Adams (Josie Berrios), 28
- Ava Le'Ray Barrin, 17
- Ebony Morgan, 28
- Tee Tee Dangerfield, 32
- Gwynevere River Song, 26
- Kiwi Herring, 30
- Jaylow McGlory, 29
- Kashmire Nazier Redd, 28 (Transman)
- Derricka Banner, 26
- Scout Schultz, 21 (identified as Non-Binary - suicide by cop)
- Ally Steinfeld, 17 (found burned body with evidence of being tortured)
- Stephanie Montez, 47
- Candace Towns, 30
- Brooklyn BreYanna Stevenson, 31
- Brandi Seals, 26
This is a running list with links: https://www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-calls-increased-and-accurate-media-coverage-transgender-murders
or https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-transgender-community-in-2017
http://www.newnownext.com/transgender-murders-2017/02/2017/
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/2/28/headlines/2_black_transgender_women_murdered_in_new_orleans_in_recent_days
http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/10/14/these-are-trans-people-killed-2016
https://www.autostraddle.com/38-year-old-black-trans-woman-alphonza-watson-is-8th-twoc-murdered-this-year-373528/
https://www.autostraddle.com/28-years-old-chay-reed-is-the-9th-trans-woman-of-color-murdered-this-year-376790/
http://www.newnownext.com/brenda-bostick-manhattan-pipe-murder-transgender/05/2017/
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/05/person-shot-killed-fresno-may-deaf-transgender/
https://www.autostraddle.com/kenne-mcfadden-is-the-12th-trans-person-of-color-murdered-in-the-u-s-this-year-381626/
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100678501804299&set=a.695640624009.2119576.55801768&type=3&theater
https://mic.com/articles/181382/ebony-morgan-is-the-15th-trans-woman-killed-in-the-us-in-2017#.Rlip14Rhl
Trans Lifeline: US: (877) 565-8860 Canada: (877) 330-6366 https://www.translifeline.org/
