Transgender Violence - 2022 Reviewed
A closer look at propaganda from the Human Rights Campaign
For years, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has put out a yearly report, documenting the violence against the LGBT+ community. This list is commonly used for the “Transgender Day of Remberance” every November, an annual memorialization of the LGBT+ saints. However, a closer look at this list raises some serious concerns about the nature of such a tribute, and what this day of rememberance is truly worth preserving
The main area of concern is the sheer number of martyrs that were actually the aggressor. Numbers 1, 4, and 11 were fairly clear-cut situations where the transgender individual was killed out of necessity. 14 and 15 died trying to assault law enforcement officers. Many others on this list had pending trials where the defendant was claiming an act of self-defense, yet the details of the case were not as clear. Number 29, in particular, was a highly politicized death, and a way for the media to highlight the controversial new “panic defense” law. Needless to say, the memorialization of these aggressive individuals is seriously repugnant.
It should also be noted that this list contains a significant amount of intra-LGBT+ violence. As a high-risk demographic, the LGBT+ community is notorious for its pervasive domestic violence and this list is no exception. Further complicating this dynamic is the transgender affinity for sex work. Number 7, for instance, was perpetrated by a man with an intentionally-secret relationship to the deceased. This statistical oversight calls into question the validity of claims such as: “26% of victims with a known killer were killed by a romantic/sexual partner, friend, or family member” - a completely arbitrary estimate by my count.
Further complicating these statistics is the insistence that 56% of these individuals were deadnamed and/or misgendered. Instead of welcoming transparency, the majority of trans rights groups intentionally hide former names, even if the new alias is not well-known. In many scenarios, the decision to obscure this information makes it very difficult to match victim information to police reports or obituaries. In a few instances (see 19, 38), the HRC seems to have retroactively assigned the trans identity. This presumption of authority calls into question the ethics of such a designation, as this sometimes contradicts the surviving family, and sometimes even the deceased. For highly politicized cases, the additional “hate crime” charge seems to depend entirely on whether or not the person the person could be trans, rather than whether or not the individual self-identified as such.
That being said, I have included some relevant information for each violent incident in order to help accurately portray these deaths. Keep in mind that this list may become outdated. Please do your own research to find the latest indictments or trial results.
London Watson (Starr) and Jason Bradley (Bianca Starr) - A trans-identifying male and a gay-identifying male that dressed in drag. One was shot to death in an apartment immediately (2017), and the other was paralyzed from a bullet in the spine (he died in hospice care in 2022). The accused man had seen their ad on Craigslist and was arranging to have sex with the men. Defense attorneys claimed that the pair of prostitutes had attempted to extort him, resulting in an act of self-defense. The accused man was recently acquitted.1
Kaushal Niroula (Kylie Monali) - Trans-identifying male. He was awaiting retrial for financially minded murder when he was killed in his cell by another inmate. The alleged reason: he was a snitch. “…the killing had been pre-planned by inmates and custodial staff because Niroula had been helping authorities uncover illegal wiretapping in the county jails.”2
Morgan Moore - Trans-identifying, 17-year-old girl. Death due to neglect. She had diabetes and multiple sclerosis and had lost the ability to walk. She weighed just 79 pounds at the time of death. Both parents were charged with one count of second-degree murder and six counts of neglect of a minor for the other children in the home.3
(Caelee LoveLight) - Trans-identifying male. Following an altercation in a car, the male was pronounced dead on scene after being shot. The other man had been stabbed and was pronounced dead at the hospital.4
Mar’Quis Jackson (MJ) - Trans-identifying female. Found dead with blunt-force trauma to the head in the backyard of the accused. Trial pending. “Shakita Sheappard, a former girlfriend of Jackson, testified that she attended Jackson’s 33rd birthday party and saw Jackson leave the party with Mitchell. Sheappard sent numerous texts to Mitchell after the party, asking what happened to Jackson, because he never returned home. But Sheappard didn’t get a clear answer from Mitchell, according to her testimony.”5
Shahere Jackson McDonald (Diamond) - Trans-identifying male. Unsolved case. Shot multiple times. Found face-down in mother’s apartment, no signs of forced entry into the residence.6
(Destin Howard) - Trans-identifying male - Found in a parking lot, shot to death. A 26-year-old man with a pre-existing relationship was charged with the murder, although it is unclear if this relationship was sexual in nature. The warrant cited the roommate as saying the accused had been sending cash to Howard to keep their relationship a secret.7
(Daniel Aston) and (Kelly Loving) - Trans-identifying female and trans-identifying male. Killed in an LGBT+ nightclub, “Club Q.” The shooter uses “they/them pronouns” and claims to be nonbinary.8
LeAnthony Marquel Robert Meriwether (Tiffany Banks) - Trans-identifying male. The circumstances of his death are unclear. The source referenced by the HRC is a single online LGBT+ advocacy blog claiming that this death resulted in a 2nd-degree murder charge. Unfortunately, the blog had very little verifiable information.9
Semaj Billingslea - Trans-identifying female. She was shot by an unknown assailant in a parking lot, succumbing to her injuries at the hospital.10
Acey Morrison - Trans-identifying male. Shot by another man, who acted in self-defense. The two had met on a dating app.11
Regina Allen (Mya) - Trans-identifying male. According to a criminal complaint, a 31-year-old man picked up Allen after meeting him at a gas station. They traveled together back to Allen's home, where officials say he was shot.12
Deangelo Ricks (Dede) - Trans-identifying male. Shot to death in the street. A man was arrested that same day and charged with second-degree murder. Trial pending.13
(Maddie) Hofmann - Trans-identifying male. Officers had been dispatched to his home to perform a wellness check after Hofmann posted threats online, along with images of his gun. In the ensuing interaction, the trans-identifying male was shot to death by police officers after pointing his firearm at the officers.14
Jasper Aaron Lynch - Trans-identifying female. Officers had been dispatched to the home for a behavioral crisis. Officers attempted to de-escalate, but Lynch ran toward the officers, attempting to strike them with a glass bottle. One officer discharged his firearm four times, resulting in the female’s death.15
Denzell D. Swan (Kandii Reed, Kamila Marie Swan, and DeeDee) - Trans-identifying male. Stabbed to death after getting into an argument with Marvin McClenton, a 28-year-old man. “McClenton described Swan as the aggressor, saying he grabbed the knife from on top of a freezer in the hallway because “he is not a good fighter” and was scared of him, according to court papers. He allegedly admitted to stabbing Swan after being struck once in the head, and as he was being struck at least twice more.”16
(Hayden) Davis - Trans-identifying male. Unsolved case. The man was found near a vacant storefront with multiple gunshot wounds, dead on the scene. “Neighbors in the area say they are familiar with the woman as she frequents that intersection. Some believe that the woman was picked up before the shooting. Witnesses tell Local 4 that they believe the woman jumped out of a vehicle and was chased down while being shot at.”17
(Marisela) Castro - Trans-identifying male. One juvenile was arrested and charged, although another suspect remains unidentified. A preliminary investigation determined Castro and another person exited her vehicle after it was parked. A suspect shot Castro and then fled the scene in his vehicle.18
Ryan Bush (Cherry) - Male wearing a dress. The homeless man was shot multiple times by another man who was walking by. The Los Angeles District Attorney is charging the accused with murder and attempted murder with a hate crime allegation due to the disparaging comments about his perceived gender identity.19
Renquel Geter (Keshia Chanel) - Trans-identifying male. His body was found in a hotel room, shot in the chest following an argument with another man. The relationship between the two is not clear although they were traveling together.20
Marquell Newman (Martasia Richmond) - Trans-identifying male. Stabbed to death after a domestic dispute, possibly in an act of self-defense. The man accused of murder had a pre-existing, 5-year relationship with him. “Burley's lawyer argued the incident was indeed a fight and a case of self defense.[…] According to the defense, Mr. Burley had previously taken out an order of protection against the victim due to an attempted break-in at a residence where Burley was living at the time.”21
Paris Nicole Lee (Kitty Monroe) - Trans-identifying male. A dispute had started in his bedroom, resulting in him pulling a gun on another male (Samuel Ward) and ordering him to leave. The resulting incident was charged as voluntary manslaughter. “Ward complied and walked to the top of the stairs when Lee took off the gun’s safety while pointing it at his head. Ward then grabbed the firearm and both began struggling, resulting in them falling down the stairs. Once landing at the bottom, Ward told investigators that he pulled out his Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol and fired approximately 6-7 shots at the victim.”22
Brushawn McClam (Shawmaynè Giselle Marie) - Trans-identifying male. An argument broke out, and the man and his sister were shot multiple times by a 20-year-old male. The man in question was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault.23
Devon Gildart (Brazil Johnson) - Trans-identifying male. Found shot to death in Milwaukee. A local activist claims that the male was a drug user and that his genitals had been cut off and stuffed in his mouth. The police have no known leads.24
Porfirio Rodriguez (Sasha Mason) - Trans-identifying male. He was shot to death in the apartment behind his mother’s home. The accused man was a known associate and was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.25
Ahsid Hemingway-Powell (Chanelika Y'Ella Dior Hemingway) - Trans-identifying male. He was shot to death in his apartment. A jury recently convicted 27-year-old male Iaeir Robinson of second-degree murder, while Robinson claimed that the trans-identifying male had given him HIV.26
Nedra (Sequence) Moss (Morris) - Trans-identifying male. He had been shot to death, his body dumped in the street. Very few details are available.27
Amber Ray Muscat - Trans-identifying female. She was shot to death in an apartment by her “girlfriend” of two years, a trans-identifying male. After shooting Muscat and his own brother in a double homicide, Martin Taverner fled to a wooded area near the apartment and killed himself.28
Zachary Barbeau (Fern Feather) - Trans-identifying male. A highly politicized death for Vermont’s controversial “panic law,” Feather was stabbed to death in a parked car by a homeless man he had spent several days with. Seth Brunell, accused of second-degree murder, claimed it was an act of self-defense after he had refused his sexual advances. Further complicating the story is a previous assault incident from a year ago involving a different homeless man, along with unwanted sexual advances.2930
Kamari (Ariyanna) Julius Mitchell - Trans-identifying boy. Shot to death at a party. “Local TV station WAVY 10 reported it spoke with a friend of Mitchell who said the shooting stemmed from a fight at a party in Norfolk earlier in the night of the shooting between the friend and Williams’ girlfriend.”31
Jamii (Miia Love) Parker - Trans-identifying male. Shot to death in a parked car. Police are still searching for the suspect in question, motive unknown. “The friend she was with drove her to the hospital. But police say she has not been cooperating with the investigation.”32
Kathryn (Katie) Newhouse - Trans-identifying male. He was shot to death by his father in a murder-suicide. The male had a history of mental illness and had been “pushed out” of the behavioral health institution. He and his father both had a history of domestic battery against each other, resolved through pre-trial diversion.3334
Tommie Whetstone (Tatiana Labelle) - Trans-identifying male. His body was found dead in a dumpster and ruled a homicide due to multiple injuries. No arrests have been made.35
Paloma Vazquez - Trans-identifying male. He was found by his boyfriend, shot to death in the apartment with no signs of forced entry. There are no known suspects or even next of kin, as he had recently fled to the US from Latin America.36
Isabella (Matthew) Spampinato - Trans-identifying female. Killed in a hit-and-run while walking home from work. No known suspects at this time.37
(Naomie) Skinner - Trans-identifying male. He was shot to death in an apartment by his boyfriend, Michael Norris. Norris pleaded guilty and received 12 to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder and a firearm felony.38
Cypress Ramos - Trans-identifying male. He was bludgeoned to death in a storage unit, then burned. The suspect claimed that he had been hearing music instructing him to kill Ramos, and further claimed that he had acted out of self-defense. He was arrested for murder and drug paraphernalia.39
Tevin Robinson (Duval Princess) - Gay-identifying male. He was shot to death in a parking lot by the man he had intended to meet. The killer plead guilty to the murder charges.40
Que’Chawn Wade (Amariey Lej) - Trans-identifying male. His body was found in the street with a fatal bullet wound. No known suspects, even after 2 years.41