Rest In Power and Peace Mesha!

We haven't even finished the first week of 2017 and I already have the sad duty of reporting that we have lost our first trans person of 2017 to anti-trans violence.

41 year old Mesha Caldwell was found shot  to death on Heindl Road near Old Yazoo Road in Madison County, just outside the Canton, Mississippi city limits yesterday. .

And as you probably guessed, the initial news reports misgendered Caldwell.  who worked as a beautician and hairstylist.

"I had a bad dream all week. I knew something was going to happen. I just didn't know it was going to be Mesha," said the victim's mother, Shirley Caldwell
The Madison County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case, which has been ruled as a homicide.  As of yet there are no persons of interest or suspects in this murder..

If I hear of any dates, times or location for a memorial service, I'll post it as soon as I receive that information.   I'll also be keeping track of any developments in this case until justice is served.

Rest in power and peace Mesha!   We won't rest until the person who took your life is brought to justice.

TransGriot Note: A candlelight vigil for Mesha is being held Friday night at 6:30 PM at Smith Park in Jackson 

Miss Me With That 'Black Men Are Killing Us ' Line In Black Trans World

One of the problematic lines I have been seeing on The Net lately is this comment that is percolating in Black Trans Feminine World that Black men are killing us and white men are nicer to Black trans women.

Both statements are problematic even before you start breaking them down and discussing the issues that led to them being said.

Yes it's definitely true that in recent years, the majority of Black trans women who have died due to anti-trans violence have done so because of Black males perpetrating the hate crimes against us.

The reality is that when crimes are committed, they are far more likely to be intraracial, not interracial   So yeah, you can bet that if a white trans woman is murdered, the odds are that the perpetrator will probably be a white male.   If that trans woman happens to be a Latina, the odds are that if she's killed, the perp will probably be Latino.

But make no mistake about it, white men have killed trans women of all ethnic backgrounds and gotten a slap on the wrist for it in more than a few cases.  If you think I'm kidding about that, Google William Palmer's name, the killer of Chanelle Pickett .

But the comment I'm hearing far too often in Black Transfeminine World that white men are 'nicer to us' because they open their wallets or are willing to be in open long term relationships with us is glaringly problematic in the face of the undeniable evidence that our legislative oppressors are overwhelmingly white men

They don't have to get in your face to kill you when they can stir up anti-trans animus on their conservative talk radio shows, from their megachurch pulpits and legislate anti-trans hatred that will embolden some angry waste of DNA to actually do the deed.  

And yeah, let's not dismiss the fact there are Black trans attracted men who are willing to take you home to their families and friends, proudly state that you are their girlfriend and treat you as the Nubian queen you are.  .

That line is also disrespectful to the Black trans men who are willing to date you as well..

So chill with that BS, okay?

RIP Nooni Norwood

Have some sad news to report on this Election Day in that we have lost another trans woman to anti-trans violence.

30 year old Nooni Norwood of Richmond, VA was shot on the city's south side in the 2700 block of Hull Street on November 5 and died from her wounds at the hospital the next day.

Richmond police have released a photo of a person of interest in Norwood's killing , and if  you have information that will lead to the capture and conviction of this person you are asked to call Major Crimes Detective Anthony Coates at (804) 646-0729 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000

She is now the 24th trans woman to have been murdered this year, and once again, we've have lost another one of my Black trans sisters.

Once again, Black community I ask the question when will our Black Trans Lives Matter?

Rest in power and peace, Nooni.  Your trans family won't rest until the waste of DNA who killed you is captured and brought to justice.

Rest In Power Brandi Bledsoe

We have lost another trans woman to violence, once again in Cleveland.

32 year old Brandi Bledsoe was found dead on Saturday clad only in her underwear and with white plastic bags covering her head and hands in the driveway behind a home on Drexel Avenue near 108th Street.  

And as you probably guessed, she was initially misgendered by the local media.

Her body was found at 10 AM EDT by a 5 year old boy riding his bike with his 12 year old brother

Police also reported that Bledsoe had head trauma and with the investigation of her death in its early stages, investigators are taking her trans status into account.

She is now the 23rd trans person killed this year in the US.  Her death now makes this the deadliest year for US trans women since we started keeping track of the murders of our trans siblings.   And once again for me, it falls into that infuriating pattern of an under 40 Black trans woman being killed

There has not been an arrest in this case yet, but will keep you TransGriot readers apprised of any developments in the Bledsoe case.

As of yet there isn't any information about a memorial service or vigil and I'll pass that info along once I receive it.

Rest in power and peace Brandi.  We will not rest as a community until the waste of DNA who killed you is captured and brought to justice.  

Denzell Thomas Charged In Jazz Alford Murder

Some good news to report in the Jazz Alford murder.

23 year old Denzell Thomas, who was already being held on $200,000 bond in the Jefferson County Jail for a home invasion robbery and shooting of a trans woman, is now being charged with the murder of Jazz Alford.

Thomas was already facing attempted murder and first degree aggravated robbery in the home invasion case in which another trans woman was shot in the face, and now he's facing a murder charge for allegedly killing Alford.

Alford was buried in North Carolina on October 1, and we'll now be watching to see if justice is served in this case.   .

Rest In Power and Peace Jazz Alford

Once again it's my sad duty to report we have lost another trans woman to anti-transgender violence.

The latest sister to prematurely join the ancestors is 30 year old Jazz Alford.  The High Point, North Carolina resident was found on the floor of her second floor motel room shot to death by the housekeeping staff at the Kings Inn in Birmingham, AL on September 23.

As you probably guessed, the local media not only misgendered her in the initial reporting of the killing, but dead named her on top of it.

"She was such a loving person and we didn't know anybody who would want to kill her," said Toya Milan, Alford's sister who also happens to be a girl like us.

The Alford case was followed up by a 24 year old trans woman in the eastern Birmingham suburb of Homewood, AL being shot in the face October 3 during a home invasion robbery.  The trans woman in that case is still at UAB Hospital, and she is recovering from her injuries at this time.

23 year old Denzell Thomas was arrested and charged with attempted murder and first degree robbery in the home invasion robbery case.   He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $200,000 bond and being questioned by investigators as a person of interest in the Alford slaying.

Alford's death now makes this the 22nd trans person slain in 2016.  This also makes 2016 the deadliest year ever for US trans murders.  It also keeps up the infuriating to me patterns of the majority of the victims being African American trans women, but being under age 40.

And yes, I blame the anti-trans rhetoric deliberately being thrown around by the Republicans for their political gain for the escalation of anti-trans violence.

I also have to ask the question when Black community, will our Black trans lives matter to you as much as cis Black ones do?

Rest in power and peace, Jazz.  Your life was taken far too soon from those of us who loved you, and we will not rest until the person who took your life is brought to justice.

Love Your Black Trans KIds

One of the things that I have been angry about in my Black community is the disturbing pattern of a cadre of Black parents when their child reveals to them they are trans, negatively react by throwing them out of their homes.

It is a problem so pervasive that 13% of homeless transgender kids in the US are African-American, and that needs to stop.  I was cognizant of in it the late 70's when I was a teen debating whether to tell my own parents about my desire to transition.

It's a pattern I prayerfully hope is finally changing thanks to Black parents of trans kids who believe the best way to deal with a transgender child is envelop them in love and raise them, not kick them out on the street.

Research shows that trans kids having supportive parents can have a profound positive effect on trans kids,and it stands to reason that if they are happier in childhood, they will grow up to become happier well adjusted adults.  

I have been pleased to see in the last few years more Black trans parents at events and conventions in which parents of trans kids gather.

I have much love and respect for DeShanna Neal, who is raising an amazing trans feminine teen daughter in Trinity, who is telling her story in this ESSENCE article.   I was also pleased to see J.R. Ford, one of the trans dads who is speaking out about raising a trans child in this video.

I was thrilled to discover during the recent Gender Infinity Conference I attended that more Black parents are supporting their trans kids and not throwing them on the streets and starting to step up to leadership roles.

I was introduced during Gender Infinity to Gail Levein Barnett, who sits on the Houston PFLAG board and has a trans daughter.

I also met during the conference Jodie Patterson, who is raising her trans son Penel and talked about it during her keynote speech.

I also met other Black parents of trans kids at Gender Infinity and others during this year who have told me they not only love and support them, it's past time for the transphobic ignorance aimed at them and trans people of all ages in our Black community to immediately end.

I agree with them on that point.  Black America, it's past time for you to stop listening to anti-trans talking points that came from white fundamentalists, being regurgitated by your ministers cooning it up for conservacash and conservative media attention and other ignorant know-nothings.

And yes, in a world in which right wing politicians are ramping up anti-trans hatred for their own political gain, it's even more imperative that we see more Black parents of trans kids and their allies on the front lines defending our trans youth from legislative and rhetorical attack.

It is past time for Black America to unconditionally love their trans children, not revile them.  It's also imperative that we Black trans adults shower our trans kids with love and support our Mama and Papa Bears raising those kids.   As the possibility models for those trans kids, if we don't love and support our trans kids or the parents raising those trans children, who will? 

I am willing to help my people accomplish that mission by working with the parents of trans kids to point out they exist, do what I can to support them, and relentlessly point out the humanity of our trans children is not up for debate or discussion.

If you believe that the children are our future, as the classic lyrics of the song 'The Greatest Love Of All' states, and claim you love our children, then by extension, Black trans kids are included.

Black Houston, Cease And Desist With The Transphobia

One of the things I'm getting sick and tired of is elements of the Houston Black community being willfully transphobic.  I'm beyond tired of it along with my Houston Black trans fam and our families, friends, and allies.

What's driving me to write this is Dee Dee telling me about a event that happened on Tuesday at the Ensemble Theater that I almost went to but because I was catching up on my backlogged writing didn't attend.

Wish I had, and I'm about to tell you why.

It was supposed to be an open mic event in which people were encouraged to step to the mic and talk for one minute about whatever issues that were bothering them.

Dee Dee spoke, and was followed up three speakers later by a man named Vince Duncan who not only misgendered her, but bragged about in the card he handed out at the event of being one of the sellout fools who worked for the defeat of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance last year.

Dee Dee was already upset about an incident that happened at a Black Lives Matter Houston event at City Hall that we both attended two months ago when a woman at that event misgendered her.  So you know she was not a happy camper when she returned home and told me she was done with attending cis Black events.

Their loss, and it's sad they have made her and many of us feel unwelcome in a community that should be our refuge from all the transphobic Hateraid we get from the rest of the world..

I love my people and my hometown, but damn folks, y'all have to show us Black trans Houstonians not only some love but respect for our humanity.  Neither I, Dee Dee or any Black trans Houstonian gave up our Black cards when we transitioned, and y'all need to recognize that fact.

Black trans women are women.  Black trans men are men.   How many times do I and countless other people inside and outside Trans World have to repeat that easy to grasp concept until you get it?  

Something else y'all need to recognize is that Black trans Houstonians aren't going back into the closet just because you wish to be willfully ignorant of the fact we exist   Neither are our trans lives and our humanity up for theological or political discussion.

Miss me with that crap.   And some of you repeating those anti-trans talking points are in the Black SGL community, and y'all need to chill with that as well.  The anti-trans comments and right wing bathroom predator lies are not only Grade A bull feces, but are hurtful and wrong,

The anti-trans rhetoric you are repeating makes Steven Hotze, the Texas GOP, Dave Wilson, Max Miller, FN Williams and other assorted Houston area transphobes smile.  It leads to anti-trans discrimination, harassment and violence.

It is getting Black trans kids thrown out of their homes.  Black trans teens make up 13% of the homeless trans teen population, and that needs to end ASAP.   It also led to many of you in Black Houston stupidly voting to repeal a HERO ordinance that I, Dee Dee and other Houstonians fought tooth and nail against GOP out of town oppressors to pass that protected your human rights in the city of Houston.

It was disgusting to me as a native Houstonian to see you fall for the 'men in dresses' okey doke lie parroted to you by suburban white Republicans, white fundie pastors egged on by sellout kneegrow pastors, and them gleefully laughing at your behinds for allowing them to hoodwink and bamboozle you into voting against your own human rights on Election Night 2015.

It's past time for the verbal abuse of trans people in our Black Houston ranks to cease and desist.  Black Trans Houstonians are part of the diverse mosaic of humanity in our beloved hometown, and all we want in addition to having our humanity and human rights respected and protected by law is to simply be able to live our lives to the best of our ability and contribute our talents to building our community and our city.

But the minimum requirement for that to happen is for you Black Houston, to cease and desist with the transphobia, and respect out humanity, because our Black Lives Matter, too.   

Trinity's ESSENCE Article

I met Trinity and her mom DeShanna back during this year's Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, and have much love for the Delaware based trans teen who began her transition at age 4.

As she has said to me, she is going to make trans history, and she wasn't kidding.  She recently visited Delaware Governor Jack Markell's (D) office with her family,

An ESSENCE magazine article came out today featuring her story, and I found it amazing since it wasn't that long ago Tracey Norman was shooting her sixth cover for ESSENCE and it was shut down after someone shadily outed her to Susan L Taylor.   Now they have had Laverne Cox on the cover twice, but still have yet to give her a solo one.

I'm talking about that past history in needed to point our just how far ESSENCE has moved on covering trans people in our community since the early 80's. An article about a trans teen in an iconic Black magazine is a big deal.

Twelve year old Trinity tells her story to ESSENCE readers, and said in it she wants to make the world more friendly for trans people.

"I want to tell kids to be themselves and release who they are," said Trinity.  "They don't need to hide all the time.  I had to tell my parents, and they could do the same thing.  I want to change the world by making it much more friendly to trans people."

Here's the link to the ESSENCE article, and thanks Trinity for telling your story in one of our iconic magazines.  I have a feeling it won't be the last interview you do.

Dee Whigham Case Update

This update in the Dee Whigham case is trigger warning worthy because it is going to discuss just how savage her murder was and how the waste of DNA who killed her deserves to be thrown under the jail, or even get lethal injection for it.

Whigham was found dead in her St Martin, MS hotel room on July 23. and the waste of DNA who allegedly killed Whigham was in court on September 12 as Jackson County Sheriff's Deputy Leo Allen described what happened from the witness stand.

The waste of DNA I'm talking about is 20 year old Dwayna Hickerson, who was captured on hotel surveillance video walking into the hotel room with Whigham, then leaving alone 23 minutes later.

According to Allen's testimony. the autopsy report revealed that Whigham was stabbed 119 times, with over 100 of those stab wounds to her face.  Her throat was also slashed three times.

Hickerson stole a Coach bag belonging to Whigham along with her cell phone and other personal items. His bloody clothes were found in a dumpster not far from his Keesler Air Force Base barracks, and base surveillance camera captured him throwing a large garbage bag in the trash.

The items stolen from Whigham were found on a beach near Keesler AFB partially burned.

Hickerson has been charged with capital murder in this case, and I will be keeping an eye on developments in it to see if Dee Whigham receives justice.

Trinity's Asking You To Stop Killing Us

The shock, sadness and anger over another Black trans woman being killed last night in Baltimore is not only affecting us in Black Trans World, but is affecting our trans kids. who are just as fed up and angry about this sadly repetitive and reprehensible situation as their trans elders.

Trinity's mom' DeShanna sent me this pic of her daughter Trinity. who is the young girl like us I mentioned in my speech at the GLAAD Gala last week,   Like many of us she is not happy that many of the trans people being killed share her ethnic background.

#ImAPerson   Yes indeed you are Trinity.   We all are.  Too bad some people refuse to see our pernsonhood and humanity and seek to demonize it.m

More importantly, like the hashtag she has on the sign, it drives home the a simple message and the point that we are not only persons, we are undeniably human.  That's a message that has been lost to the Republican Party, the TERFs and a long list of assorted enemies to transkind who get their jollies from oppressing us.

And the hateful rhetoric they are using to do that has filtered down to the general public. It is fueling anti-trans animus that is leading to increasing numbers of trans women being attacked and sadly murdered, and far too often it is Black trans women taking the brunt of that anti-trans violence.    

And it needs to stop.

Those Black trans women we have lost have been at the hands of other Black people, so Black community, you'r toxic masculinity is killing not only us, but is also resulting the deaths of Black cis women and any kids who don't exhibit heteronormative behavior.

#I'm A Person  #IAmHuman, she is human, all trans people are beautifully human and our #BlackLivesMatter.  

So just stop killing us.

RIP Crystal Edmonds

It's my sad duty to report we've lost another sister in 2016 to senseless anti-trans violence

32 year old Crystal Edmonds was shot in the back of the head early Friday morning at approximately 3:00 AM in the 3600 block of Fairview Avenue in northwest Baltimore.

Edmonds. who is a resident of southwest Baltimore, was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died five hours later.

Edmonds is now the 21st trans person killed in the US this year, which sadly equals last year's total

If you live in the area, a $2000 reward is being offered for any information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the waste of DNA who killed our sister, you are urged to call police at 410-396-2100, Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7LOCKUP or text a tip to 413-902-4824.

Will be keeping an eye on this case until Crystal's killer is arrested . convicted, and rotting in jail. If there is any information concerning a vigil or memorial service for Crystal, I'll pass that along as well. .

Rest in power and peace, Crystal.

Arrest Made In Deneequia Dodds Case

I have some good news to report in that an arrest has been made in the Deenequia Dodds case.

You'll recall that Dodds was found by a pedestrian shot in the neck in the early morning hours of July 4 in the 200 block of Division Ave NE just a few blocks from her home/  She succumbed July 13 from her gunshot wound after nine days on life support at Prince George's Hospital Center.

There were unfortunately no witnesses at the time to what happened to Dee Dee, and MPD detectives suspected it was a robbery and a $25,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

Looks like the reward worked in getting the necessary information.

22 year old Shareem Hall of District Heights, MD was arrested yesterday morning and charged with murder while armed.   Hate crime charge enhancements are a serious consideration in this case according to Interim MPD Police Chief Peter Newsham.

Know that I and my DC trans family will be keeping an eye on this case to ensure that justice is served.
 

Two More USA Trans Women Lost In 2016

Once again, it's my sad duty to report that we have lost two more trans women, one in Maine, and one in Chicago which brings the death toll this year up to 20 with three months to go.

43 year old Lexxi Sironen's body was found floating in the Kennebec River on September 6 at 8:15 AM EDT near the water reservoir of the Brookfield Power Facility.   She was from Waterville, ME, lived along the riverbank and was associating with other transient people in the area.

Friends of Sironen think that foul play was involved in her death, and while an autopsy on the body has been done by the state medical examiner, the cause of death has yet to be announced.

There will be a memorial service held for Sironen on September 18 at 12:00 PM.

Waterville police are still investigating, and if you have information that will help solve this case, please call Waterville Police Detective David Caron at 680-4700.

I'm also tired of the mugshot being used instead of this pic I found on her memorial website.

In Chicago, the body of a 26 or 27 year old Black trans woman known as T.T. to all who loved her on Chicago's West Side was found with her throat slit in West Grant Park and the knife nearby on Sunday night.   Ironically T.T's body was found a mere two blocks from the spot where Paige Clay's body was found in 2012.

T.T was pronounced dead at the scene, and was misgendered by the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune when they first reported the case.  It took subsequent reporting from the Windy City Times to correct the police and media misgendering.

There was a vigil held for T.T yesterday at the corner of Monroe and Kenton Streets in which a friend of T.T's named Jaliyah Armstrong stated that T.T had an altercation with another trans woman three days before she was found dead and that person threatened to kill her.

Hmm CPD, sounds like a lead in this case to me.

The Windy City Times in a 2015 investigative report by Gretchen Hammond documented the CPD's problems with misgendering trans people, but it's obvious that they still refuse to learn anything.

The investigation into T.T.'s death by the CPD is an ongoing one, but the local trans community is pessimistic that it will result in the arrest and prosecution of her killer.

If you have information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of T.T's killer, call Cook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP

Rest in power and in peace Lexxi and T.T.

Open Letter To My Young Trans Sister Trinity

Dear Trinity,
I had the pleasure of meeting you and your mother during the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference back in June.  She has expressed her concerns to me that you've been a little down lately because when you see these numerous social media lists compiled of transgender leaders, advocates and history makers, there are far too often those times when those lists don't have people on them who reflect your ethnic heritage.

Your mom is concerned that you have expressed the sentiment that if you wish to be an advocate for this community, you need to be a pretty white girl to do so.  That's alarming and a problem for me and every African-American trans person who has been on the front lines of this movement for decades to make the world better for you to grow up in just as it is a concern for your mother..

It's also one of the reasons why I founded TransGriot ten years ago so that young trans kids like yourself and our allies know beyond a shadow of a doubt that people like us were not only saying it loud we were Black and proud, we are also proud unapologetically Black trans people who made major contributions to building this trans movement and making trans history.

We Black trans people have been a major part of this trans rights movement ever since it kicked off with a Black trans woman by the name of Marsha P. Johnson throwing the shot glass that started the Stonewall Riots and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy being there as it happened.  Marsha stood side by side with Sylvia Rivera as early leaders standing up for the rights of trans people as that nascent TBLG rights movement took shape.

Just four years before that in April-May 1965, it was gender variant kids like you who told the owners of Dewey's Lunch Counter in Philly in a sit in and protest that lasted several days they wouldn't accept being treated like second class citizens.

One of the people who helped found GenderPac, that organized several Washington DC lobby days in the 90's was a Philadelphia based Black trans woman named Dionne Stallworth.   You have trailblazing Black trans feminine leaders who are history makers themselves in Dawn Wilson and Marisa Richmond based in Louisville and Nashville, and Lorrainne Sade Baskerville who was handling her human rights business on behalf of our community in Chicago.

And that's even before I talk about some of your trans masculine uncles who paved the way, blazed trails and helped pass trans rights legislation like Marcelle Cook-Daniels, Alexander John Goodrum, and Kylar Broadus.   Trans men are still making major contributions to our leadership ranks today like Carter Brown, Jevon Martin, Diwa Cain, Joshua Holiday, Vann Millhouse,  Mister Cris, BT in the Atlanta area, and Dr Kortney Ziegler just to name a few.

Even our trans cousins on the African continent and in the Caribbean like Audrey Mbugua of Kenya and Ashily Dior, and Tru Wilson in Canada have been fighting in their various nations across the Diaspora to advance the human rights of trans people in their respective nations and worldwide.

A certain blogger you met in Philadelphia also has done her share over the last 18 years to advance the human rights of our community in her home state of Texas and beyond, but that's a story I can tell you the next time we spend quality time together.

We also have some amazing Black trans people blazing trails today in various fields like Janet Mock, Laverne Cox, Tona Brown ,Valerie Spencer. Tracee McDaniel, Andrea Jenkins, Kim Watson, Cheryl Courtney- Evans and emerging trans feminine leaders like Raquel Willis, Tiommi Luckett, Bryanna Jenkins, Elle Hearns, Sharron Cooks, La La Zannell, Monica Jones, CeCe McDonald, and Precious Brady Davis just to name a few.

So my dearest Trinity, if you are wishing to contribute to advancing the human rights of our community, know this from me and all your Black trans elders that you have a proud history and legacy of leadership to build upon, and plenty of trans aunts and uncles who stand ready to help you become the best advocate for our community you can be if that is what you wish to do.

Love,
Monica    

Two More Trans Women Of Color Killed In Ohio And Texas

While I was up in western New York making a little trans history with Janet Mock, the world kept turning, and I stepped off the ground to find out that two of my sisters have been killed.

And once again, it fit the infuriating pattern in these trans murders of both trans women being under age 40, and being trans women of color

The one that really bothers me is the murder of 28 year old Rae Lynn Thomas of Columbus, Ohio.   This one happened mere weeks after the death up I-71 un Cleveland of 26 year old Skye Mockabee and sadly fits one of my mantras that I often repeat when I talk about anti trans bigotry and hatred.

Anti-trans hate thoughts + anti-trans hate speech = anti-trans hate violence and murders.

Thomas was murdered by her mother's transphobic ex boyfriend James Allen  Byrd.   He often hurled anti-trans slurs at Rae Lynn and referred to her as 'the devil'.

Gee, wonder where the 53 year old Byrd heard that description and some of that anti-trans rhetoric?  Pope Francis? Some sellout kneegrow pastor?   The Republican Party?   Right wing media?

Wherever he heard it, it unfortunately resulted in Byrd unfortunately taking his transphobic hate thoughts and hate speech to another level on Wednesday, as he called Thomas 'the devil' one last more time before he shot her twice and killed her.

And once again, the local paper, the Columbus Dispatch, added insult to injury by not only misgendering Rae Lynn, but refuses so far to correct their problematic story.

He was arrested, charged with murder and is being held in the Franklin County Jail on a $2 million bond.   Hope that will be a permanent condition for his when justice is served in this case.

775 miles to the west of me along I-10 in El Paso, we lost another trans woman to senseless anti-trans violence on Monday.

38 year old Erykah Tijerina was found dead in her apartment on Lisbon St.   El Paso County medical examiners have not as yet ruled on the cause of Erykah's death, but El Paso police investigators in the Crimes Against persons unit are quoted as saying there were obvious signs of foul play.

And just as in the Thomas murder, Tijerina was misgendered in the El Paso press.

Her family thinks it was a hate crime and she was targeted for being her unapologetic trans Latina self.  In case you're wondering, no thanks to Diane Hardy-Garcia, the head at the time of the proto organization, the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby that became Equality Texas.  As the ED of the LGRL she was responsible despite our best efforts, for throwing Texas trans people under the legislative bus in 1999 and 2001,

And nope, still pissed off about what happened in Austin at that time.

As a result of her actions, Texas trans people are not covered under the state's James Byrd Hate Crimes law that eventually passed in the 2001 Texas legislative session.  Translation: Tijerina's death isn't being investigated as a hate crime as a result of that legislative bull feces.

I'll gripe about that legislative travesty another time.  Right now I need to be focused on the fact my fellow Texan's life was tragically cut short earlier this week.

And yeah Dan Patrick, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton and Texas Republican Party, your anti-trans rhetoric has real world consequences and negative ripple effects in the lives of transgender Texans

As of this writing there has not been an arrest made in Tijerina's murder, and anyone who has information that will lead to the capture and successful prosecution of it is urged to call El paso Crime Stoppers at 915-566- TIPS (8477) or toll free at 877- 566-TIPS.

If you have tips that will lead to the expeditious capture, prosecution and conviction of Tijerina's killer, please call the El Paso Police Department at 951-000-0000, text EPPD and the tip to 847411 or submit an anonymous tip

There will be a vigil hosted by Sun City Pride for Tijerina at The Edge nightclub tonight at 8:30 Pm MDT, with a second vigil being planned for August 21.

Tijerina's family also has a GoFundMe page up to help raise funds to defray the costs of her funeral.

I will be keeping up with the legal developments in both these cases until both the perpetrators of these murders are brought to justice.

Rest in power and peace Rae Lynn and Erykah.

Arrest Made In Dee Wigham Case

I'm happy to report for you TransGriot readers that an arrest has been madee in the Dee Whigham case.   She's the latest one of our sisters to be unfortunately taken from us in 2016.

The 25 year old Whigham was found stabbed to death in her St. Martin, MS hotel room on Saturday after traveling there with a group of friends from the Hattiesburg, MS area to attend the Gulf Coast Black Rodeo in Biloxi, MS.

20 year old Navy seaman Dwanya Hickerson of New Orleans, who was stationed at nearby Keesler AFB for training was arrested Monday morning and charged with capital murder     He got charged with capital murder because he was trying to rob Whigham.

Hickerson was the man spotted on the hotel surveillance cameras leaving Whigham's room, and a tip led investigators to Keesler AFB armed with a with a search warrant.  Hickerson had been there at Keesler since April for training.

The case is an ongoing investigation, and as I get more developments I'll pass them along to you TransGriot readers.  

RIP Dee Whigham

We've lost another trans sister to senseless violence, this time in Mississippi

Dee Whigham is her name, and the 25 year old registered nurse was found stabbed to death Saturday in a hotel room in St Martin. MS.   She was just starting her career in the medical field and worked for a hospital in Hattiesburg.

And once again, another Black trans woman who won't make it to her 30th birthday.

Whigham had traveled to the South Mississippi area with several friends in order to attend the Gulf Coast Black Rodeo in Biloxi, and she and her friends were staying in Room 127 at the Best Western Plus Cypress Creek Hotel just north of I-10 near the Ocean Springs exit

There is a person of interest in the murder that Jackson County sheriffs are looking for.   A man was spotted by the hotel security cameras around 8:35 PM wearing a green shirt and carrying a backpack, but at 8:58 PM showing the same man leaving with his shirt off and hanging around his neck.

Jackson County Sheriffs are looking for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the Whigham murder case, and if you do have information that will help solve it, call Detective Leo Allen at 228-875-0292, the Jackson County sheriff's dispatchers at 228-769-3060 or Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898 or online at mscoastcrimestoppers.com

Rest in power and peace sis.   We won't rest until your killer is brought to justice.

TransGriot Update: An arrest has been made in the Dee Whigham murder.   20 year old  Dwanya Hickerson has been charged with her murder.

DeShanna And Trinity Meet Gov. Markell

I've had the pleasure of meeting and talking to over the last few years many of the mothers who are raising trans kids like Jeanette Jennings, Debi Jackson, and Kim Pearson.

In my Houston area backyard, thanks to Gender Infinity that's run by Dr. Colt Meier, I've gotten to meet more of the 'Mama Bears' as they call themselves, and Ann Elder and Kimberly Shappley are just two of the amazing mom's I've gotten to meet.

But one of the things that I have been repeatedly asked by people is where are the trans parents who look like me?   Where are the Black trans parents who unconditionally love and support their trans kids and are raising them to be the best human beings they can be and not tossing them out on the street?

Their Black Lives Matter as well, and I was jumping up and down ecstatic to hear about Delaware based mom DeShanna Neal and her precocious preteen trans daughter Trinity.  

If Deshanna's name sounds familiar to you, it's because she was one of the four mothers profiled in the Trans United Fund video that was released back on Mother's Day.

She also authored a well received post in the Advocate about why her daughter's Black Life Matters and making a better world for Trinity and all her kids.

I finally got to meet both of them at this year's edition of the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, and it was a joy to meet DeShanna, spend some quality time with her during the PTHC, and watch Trinity interact with other kids like her at the pool party.

On July 13 she and her family got to meet with Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D) and her state representative Paul Baumbach (D).  Gov Markell has been a standup ally of the trans community, supported and signed the Delaware trans rights law when it hit his desk in 2013 and supports the DOE/DOJ trans guidelines.   Rep. Baumbach has also been a supportive ally and the Neal's are happy to have his as their state representative.

Said Neal about that recent meeting, "Hearing him express his support and acceptance for the LGBT community, and especially trans children, gave me hope for a better future for my daughter and Delaware's transgender community."

Congratulations for the successful meeting with your state's governor.   It's a light years different response from Texas top governmental officials when it comes to trans kids in my home state.

Gov. Markell's words and deeds give me and the trans elders around the country who love and support our trans kids hope as well when we hear positive news like this.. And it's even more amazing as an unapologetic Black trans person to see Trinity be showered in unconditional love. This should be the rule for our trans kids, not the exception.
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RIP Deneequia Dodds

Once again we have lost another of our young trans people to senseless violence.

22 year old Dennequia 'Dee Dee' Dodds was shot in the early morning hours on July 4 in a northeast DC alley just a few blocks from her home in the 200 block of Division Ave NE.  After police were flagged down to reach her at 3 AM EDT, she was taken to an area hospital with a gunshot wound to her neck, and was on life support for nine days before she was taken off of it and died July 13

"Her death reminds us all how often the transgender community is targeted for violence in our society," said longtime DC based trans advocate Earline Budd, who is acting as a spokesperson for the family.

Casa Ruby founding executive director Rudy Corado said in a statement, "Deneequia was part of the Casa Ruby family, and she is gone but not forgotten.  Her death will not be in vain."

"Casa Ruby denounces the genocide of young transgender women of color. People in leadership need to address the employment barriers that keeps trans women of color from accessing the resources they need to grow healthy and thrive," Corado added.

She would have celebrated her 23rd birthday this month.   Instead her family is planning her funeral instead of a birthday party. . A vigil was held in the courtyard of her home  at 5255 Clay Terrace NE on Saturday, with Dodds' funeral scheduled to take place July 25.

Deneequia Dodds has become the 15th trans person to die this year, and fits the ongoing pattern of anti-trans violence of  being a trans woman of color and under age 30.

DC Metropolitan Police has not released any information about a suspect, nor are they investigating Dodds' murder as a hate crime.  But with her death, when they do catch the perpetrator of this crime, that waste of DNA will be facing homicide charges.

MPD is also looking for information that will help solve this crime and bring Deneequia's killer to justice    You can call 202-727-9099 if you have information about this case.  You can also text 50411 to anonymously submit you information about this case.

There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this  case, and I hope our sister receives justice soon.  The Washington DC trans community and our allies will be making sure that happens.