Transgender Day of Remembrance 2017 (TDOR)

LGBT Life Center honors the 26 trans individuals lost in 2017

Sunday was an emotional evening for the community as we all came together at New Life MCC Church in Norfolk to remember the transgender individuals killed in 2017. With trans violence at an alarming record high, the TDOR ceremony stands to not only pay respect and remembrance to the individuals who lost their lives, but to unify as a community in an effort to raise awareness for transgender rights. Together, we read their names, shared their stories, and were brought together on a platform of resilience and hope for a brighter and safer future for trans people.

The event was also covered by the Virginian-Pilot.

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Mesha Caldwell, 41. A black transgender woman from Canton, Mississippi. She was found shot to death the evening of January 4. The murder is still under investigation and no suspects have been arrested.
Well known in Canton as a hair and makeup artist, Mississippi News Now reported, the community is mourning her loss. Mic.com interviewed Mary Young, a longtime family friend, who described Caldwell as “beautiful” and said it was painful to see her misgendered in initial media reports on her death. A friend and former roommate, transgender advocate Evonne Caho, told the Sun Herald that Caldwell was “a happy person who loved everyone and never met a stranger.”

Sean Hake, 23. A transgender man in Sharon, Pennsylvania, died after he was shot by police responding to a 911 call from his mother. A friend told WKBN that Sean “had a genuinely good heart and he had struggled with his problems.” Sean had posted on YouTube about his own process toward self-acceptance as a transgender man. Police say Sean repeatedly refused police orders to put down a utility knife before they opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28. An American Indian woman who identified as transgender and two-spirit, was found dead in her apartment in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A suspect, 25-year-old Joshua Rayvon LeClaire, has been arrested and charged with murder and manslaughter in connection with her death. A member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, she grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Friends told the Argus Leader that Jamie worked in customer service and loved to spend her free time at the library. They remembered her as an honest, compassionate person who made an impact on those who met her.

JoJo Striker, 23. A transgender woman who was found killed in Toledo, Ohio, on February 8. Striker’s mother, Shanda Striker, described her as “funny and entertaining” and said her family loved her deeply.
Initial media reports identified Striker by the wrong gender, Mic reported. This underscores the systematic undercounting of transgender murder victims. There is no mandatory national system tracking whether homicide victims are transgender, so advocates rely on media reports to count how many transgender people are killed each year.

Tiara Richmond aka Keke Collier, 24. Tiara was fatally shot in Chicago on the morning of February 21. A transgender woman of color, she was found dead on the same street as two other transgender women that were killed in 2012. In 2012, Tiffany Golden and Paige Clay, both transgender women of color, were also victims of violence on the same street where Tiara lost her life. These cases remain unsolved.

Chyna Gibson, 31. A black transgender woman who was shot and killed in New Orleans on February 25. Chyna was a much-loved performer in the ballroom community who was visiting friends and family in New Orleans at the time of her death. “RIP Chyna Doll Dupree. You were such an inspiration to myself and many of my closest friends. You will forever be missed. Fly on angel, fly on!,” one friend commented, according to Pink News.

Ciara McElveen, 26. A transgender woman of color who was stabbed to death in New Orleans on February 27. McElveen did outreach for the homeless community. As of February 28, 2017, HRC has tracked at least nine murders of transgender people in Louisiana since 2013.
Syria Sinclaire, a local transgender advocate and friend of McElveen, said of the tragedy, “[t]rans women don’t want any special privileges. We should have the right to live our lives open and free and not be taunted and traumatized by the general public if they don’t approve.”

Jaquarrius Holland, 18. Jaquarrius was shot to death in Monroe, Louisiana, on February 19. One friend, Chesna Littleberry, told Mic that Holland was “like a younger sister” and had helped her learn to accept herself. One friend, Chesna Littleberry, told Mic that Holland was “like a younger sister” and had helped her learn to accept herself. Police say Holland was shot after a “verbal altercation” with Malcom Derricktavios Harvey, and have issued a warrant for Harvey’s arrest, with charges of second-degree murder. Harvey has since been arrested, charged and is awaiting trial for second-degree murder.

Alphonza Watson, 38. Alphonza was shot and killed in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 22. Watson’s mother said her daughter was “the sunshine of our family,” a “caring, passionate” person who loved cooking and gardening. ABC2 News interviewed members of Baltimore’s transgender community, who were rattled by the attack. Key’Ayshia Tucker, who works at Baltimore’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, said the death brought her to tears—and explained that barriers to jobs and education put the trans women she works with at risk for violence.

Chay Reed, 28. A transgender woman of color, was shot and killed on April 21 in Miami. Reed’s longtime friend told Mic about their longtime friendship–describing her as someone who was full of life and beloved by many.
Patina Peterson, Reed’s longtime friend, spoke to Mic about their longtime friendship–describing her as someone who was full of life and beloved by many. “She was a light, always trying to make everyone around her happy,” said Peterson. “I don’t even remember her getting into anything. I don’t remember seeing her in an altercation out there with anybody in a bad way. I’ve never seen that.”

Kenneth Bostick, 59. Kenneth was found with severe injuries on a Manhattan sidewalk, he later died of his injuries. Few details about Bostick’s life have been reported, he is believed to have been homeless at the time he was attacked. New York police have not identified any suspects in Bostick’s murder, NBC 4 reported, and authorities are asking the public to share any information about the attack. Police also have not said whether Bostick was attacked near Seventh Avenue and 29 Street, where he was found unconscious, or whether he was moved there after being assaulted elsewhere.

Sherrell Faulkner, 46. A transgender woman of color who died on May 16 of injuries sustained during an attack on November 30, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Police are treating the assault as a homicide. No arrests have been made at this point. Sean had posted on YouTube about his own process toward self-acceptance as a transgender man. Police say Sean repeatedly refused police orders to put down a utility knife before they opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Kenne McFadden, 27. Kenne was found in the San Antonio River on April 9. Police believe she was pushed into the river, which runs through downtown San Antonio. A high-school friend of McFadden described her to local media as assertive, charismatic and lovable. No arrests have been made, but police said they have a person of interest in custody. A high-school friend of McFadden described her as assertive, charismatic and lovable, calling her “everything you would expect in a friend.” On her Facebook profile, Kenne wrote that she worked as a waitress, and posted videos of herself singing.

Kendra Marie Adams, 28. Kendra was found in a building that was under construction and had burns on her body on June 13. Police have charged Michael Davis, 45, with Adams’ murder. Adams also went by Josie Berrios, the name used in initial media reports on her death. Adams’ death is a stunning loss for those who knew her. Jamie Williamson, an Ithaca police officer who spoke to the media about the case, said he’d interacted with Adams, describing her as a “beautiful person” who was charismatic and “always joking around with her friends.”

Ava Le’Ray Barrin, 17. Ava Le’ Ray was shot and killed in Athens, Georgia on June 25 during an altercation in an apartment parking lot. In an online obituary, friends remembered Barrin as a “social butterfly” and an “amazing girl” who “loved to make people laugh.” In an online obituary, friends remembered Barrin as a “social butterfly” and an “amazing girl” who “loved to make people laugh.” On Monday, mourners held a candlelight service at the apartment complex where Barrin was killed, according to TransGriot.

Ebony Morgan, 28. Ebony was shot multiple times in Lynchburg, Virginia, in the early morning of July 2. Morgan was transferred to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Authorities have named Kenneth Allen Kelly Jr. as a person of interest in the case. A Facebook statement posted by The Lynchburg Diversity Center and Lynchburg Transgender Alliance called Morgan’s death “a sad day for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community of Virginia. And a very sad day for us in Lynchburg.”

TeeTee Dangerfield, 32. A Black transgender woman who was shot and killed on July 31 in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the Georgia Voice, Dangerfield “was found with multiple gunshot wounds outside of her vehicle at the South Hampton Estates apartment complex.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first incident in Georgia this year. In June, Ava Le’Ray Barrin, 17, was shot and killed in Athens, Georgia, during an altercation in an apartment parking lot.

Gwynevere River Song, 26. Gwynevere was shot and killed in Waxahachie, Texas, on August 12. According to their Facebook profile, they identified as “femandrogyne” and a member of the bisexual community. According to local media, police responded to a report of a shooting at Song’s home Saturday afternoon and discovered Song’s body as well as an injured adult male, whose name has not yet been released.

Kiwi Herring, 30. Kiwi was killed during an altercation with police on August 22 during an altercation with her neighbor. Relatives told Huffpost the neighbor was transphobic and that excessive force by police led to her death. “Kiwi was harassed and executed and it’s a horrible feeling,” Herring’s sister-in-law, Crevonda Nance, told HuffPost, which reports that police are investigating but have not confirmed Nance’s allegations.

Kashmire Nazier Redd, 28. Kashmire was found shot to death in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 12. Friends describe Banner as a “playful spirit” and “go-getter” who enjoyed life. This tragedy is the latest reminder that the transgender community is disproportionately represented in domestic violence cases across the country, and more must be done to support those experiencing intimate partner violence. Jamie Saunders, CEO of Willow Domestic Violence Center, noted that transgender people face “additional unique barriers” in seeking safety and support from domestic violence.

Derricka Banner, 26. Derricka was found shot to death in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 12. Friends describe Banner as a “playful spirit” and “go-getter” who enjoyed life.
According to family members, Banner, a resident of Lenoir, N.C., was in Charlotte on Monday evening visiting friends. Friends described her on social media as a “playful spirit” and “go-getter” who enjoyed life.

Scout Schultz, 21. Scout was shot and killed by Georgia Tech campus police on September 16. The GT Progressive Student Alliance, a progressive student advocacy group on campus, called Schultz an “incredible, inspirational member of our community and a constant fighter for human rights.”
Schultz also used they/them pronouns, according to their Facebook post, which multiple news outlets so far failed to acknowledge.

Ally Steinfeld, 17. Ally was stabbed to death in Missouri in early September. Three people have been charged in her murder. Steinfeld’s family said Ally “sometimes” identified as female on social media. The Houston Herald reports that Vrba told authorities he stabbed Steinfeld, 17, with help from Schauer and Calderas and then moved the body outside and burned it. Last week, police discovered Steinfeld’s remains in a burned pile in a bag outside Calderas’ home. Schauer and Calderas both claim Vrba bragged about the murder, according to local news affiliate KY3 in Springfield, Missouri.

Stephanie Montez, 47. Stephanie was brutally murdered near Robstown, Texas. Montez’s longtime friend, Brittany Ramirez, described her as “one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet.” Sean had posted on YouTube about his own process toward self-acceptance as a transgender man. Police say Sean repeatedly refused police orders to put down a utility knife before they opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Candace Towns, 30. A transgender woman who was found shot to death in Georgia. Town’s friend, Malaysa Monroe, remembers Towns’ generosity. “If I needed anything she would give it to me. She would give me the clothes off her back,” Monroe said. The Telegraph reported that in July 2009 Towns was reportedly shot in the ankle, just a few blocks from where her body was found. Police are investigating the murder and have not released any additional information.”

We will never forget the beautiful individuals lost this year to senseless and hateful violence. We must keep marching onward in the fight to educate, spread awareness, and stop the violence against the transgender community. One day, we hope for a world where TDOR is no longer needed because trans individuals are treated no different than everyone else–with love and respect.

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LGBT Life Center honors the 26 trans individuals lost in 2017

Watch the Memorial Video

#SayTheirNames

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