2017 US Trans Murders List

We're getting close to this year's Transgender Day of Remembrance memorial events, and this is the current list of trans people who have died in the US in 2017.

Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28, Sioux Falls, SD
Mesha Caldwell, 41, Canton, MS
Jojo Striker, 23  Toledo, OH
Jaquarrius Holland, 18   Monroe, LA
Keke Collier, 24, Chicago, IL
Chyna Gibson, 31, New Orleans, LA
Ciara McElveen, 26, New Orleans, LA
Alphonza Watson, 38, Baltimore, MD
Chay Reed, 28, Miami, FL
Brenda Bostick, 59, New York, NY
Sherrell Faulkner, 46, Charlotte, NC
Kenne McFadden, 27, San Antonio, TX
Josie Berrios, 28, Ithaca, NY
Ava Le'Ray Barrin, 17, Athens, GA
Ebony Morgan, 28, Lynchburg, VA
Tee Tee Dangerfield, 32, College Park, GA
Gwynevere River Song,  26, Waxahachie, TX
Kashmire Redd, 28, Gates, NY
Derricka Banner, 28, Charlotte, NC
Ally Steinfeld, 17  Cabool, MO
Stephanie Montez, 47  Robstown, TX
Candace Towns, 30  Macon, GA


So far in 2017 we have lost 17 Black trans people, 1 Native American, 2 Latinas, and 2 White
16 of the 17 Black trans people we have lost in 2017 have been trans feminine, 1 trans masculine.

Breaking it down by age, 3 have been in their teens, 11 in their 20's,  4 in their 30's, 3 in their 40's and one in their 50's.

Youngest has been 17 in the persons of Ava  Le'Ray Barron and Ally Steinfeld, who was killed mere days before her 18th birthday    Oldest so far this year has been Brenda Bostick.

***I use the Gwen Smith Remembering Our Dead List standards to compile this list.  Like the Remembering our Dead List, one of the things I don't count in the overall total is police involved shootings.  Unless the police officer in question is indicted for murder, I can't legitimately consider that trans person's death via a police confrontation as a trans bias motivated murder. 

It's why I don't count Sean Hake and Kiwi Herring's deaths in this year's trans statistics.  They were both police involved shootings.  That's a separate issue with many variables in it.  .  

Also as per the Remembering Our Dead list standards, neither do I count suicides in my TransGriot  Remembering Our Dead count.  This may sound harsh, but a person who has committed suicide made a conscious choice to take their own life. A person who is murdered had their life snuffed out by another person or persons.

Suicide is also another separate issue with many variables, and shouldn't be lumped in with people who were murdered.  Neither should the folks who died via police involvement

Also, another mistake I see on the other lists that is a serious irritant to me is in Brenda Bostick being listed as Kenneth Bostick.

Brenda Bostick was trans feminine.  The New York City coroner who performed the autopsy on Ms. Bostick found breasts and a penis, so translation, she is TRANS FEMININE.

So please stop disrespecting Ms Bostick by listing her with a masculine name and correct your lists ASAP.
Another error that I see in several lists is the Josie Berrios situation.   She was also known as Kendra Marie Adams, and I've seen two lists with BOTH names on it. 
So that's why I have 22 people listed per Remembering Our Dead Project standards.

I just want those murders to stop.