Happy 25th Birthday Raquel!

Last year I got to meet this amazing twentysomething trans advocate during an anti-violence conference in Chicago..

When I first met her, I originally thought she was a cis feminine ally until she spoke during one of the discussion sessions and let us all know she was a girl like us.  

I had a chance during the Chicago event to have a long one on one conversation with her, and participate in some discussion groups with her during the conference.  I could tell right away that she was going to do amazing things for our community.  The fact that she was a writer made me even more of a fan of hers, and we exchanged contact information that day.  

That twentysomething I met who so impressed me was Atlanta-based advocate Raquel Willis, and as I figured out after meeting her, my initial impression of her was on target.

 She has been getting well deserved attention for her thoughtful and incisive writing and her efforts as one of the group of trans leaders we are blessed to have in Atlanta doing the education not only on trans issues, but an eloquent voice speaking about a wide range of social justice issues.

Raquel is the bomb as one of our emerging young leaders, and I'm glad people inside and outside our trans   community ranks are recognizing it.

I'm also exceedingly proud of her. .Yeah, she's heard me say this to her in our check in phone conversations, but I wanted to put it in writing so she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt how much I love and admire her.
And what better day than her birthday to do so?

 I also couldn't let her 25th birthday pass without giving her the TransGriot shout out this auspicious occasion deserves.

Happy birthday Raquel!  Thanks for everything you do for our community, and I hope your special day is one filled with love, fun, and maximum fabulousness.    Hope it is also a blessings filled one for you, and you receive the ultimate blessing of being around to celebrate many more of them.

Bryanna Needs Some Support

My Baltimore based sis Bryanna Jenkins has been accepted to DePaul University's College of Law in Chicago and will be headed to Chicago in August to join the Class of 2019!

I'm proud of her for getting a step closer to her dream of becoming an attorney, and Bryanna wants to concentrate on the areas of public interest and civil rights law.

The 27 year old Jenkins is an award winning advocate for our community who was recently honored with a 2016 BTAC Rising Stars Award.

While she was awarded a $60K renewable scholarship and has applied for countless others, as those of us who have pursued higher education know, scholarships don't cover all the costs of your legal education.

She'll also be resigning her position at her job in Baltimore in August to make that move to Chitown and get her legal education started.

Bryanna started a GoFundMe page two months ago with a goal of raising $5000 to help her defray some of her moving expenses and get settled in Chicago.

However, I've been distressed to see that at the time I'm compiling this post, unfortunately she has raised just $805 toward that goal, and the clock is inexorably ticking toward the August moment that she will have to move from Baltimore to Chicago to get settled for her first year of law school at DePaul.

She'll also need for her dorm room appliances, bedding, and old law school textbooks while she's getting her legal education in the Windy City.

Can we show our trans sister some love and contribute to her fund?  Chicago based trans fam, can y'all also do what y'all can to help Bryanna out when she arrives in your backyard?

If you can drop $5, $10, $20 or whatever you can spare on her GoFundMe, every little bit helps to get our sis closer to that $5000 goal.  You can also consider whatever you donate to Bryanna's GoFundMe it an investment in the education of a future legal advocate for our community, and the more trans attorneys we have, the better.

Thank you for considering helping our trans sister out.

The O'Bannon's On HLN August 27

During my Texan in Exile days in Louisville, two of the many people I got to meet in the nearly nine years I lived there were Sheila O'Bannon and her lovely trans feminine daughter Shemiyia

I met them back in 2004, when Miyia was just getting started with her transition, and Sheila was adjusting to it as well.

It's a story that Sheila captured in a play she wrote and produced entitled The Prodigal.  It was a fictionalized account of a family's journey to understand and eventually come to accept the transition journey of one of its family members. 

It debuted at the Kentucky Center for the Arts in downtown Louisville, and yours truly was going to be the moderator for its June 2010 debut until I had to move back to Houston several weeks before the play had the first of its two sold out performances on June 26-27.

It was another piece of unfinished Louisville business I was disappointed and pissed off about not getting a chance to complete as I pointed the moving van southward on I-65 toward Nashville and the opening leg of my journey back home.

I did get to catch up and have lunch with the O'Bannon women at the 59 Diner when they rolled through Houston on vacation two years ago. We had a wonderful time catching up on what was transpiring in all our lives at the time while discussing the then state of the trans community for Black trans folks vis a vis our white counterparts..

Thanks to Miyia's FB page, she's alerted me to an upcoming appearance of her and her mother on Dr. Drew On Call that they taped yesterday.   It's scheduled to air on HLN August 27.

Looking forward to seeing it, and you may wish to set your DVR's for it.  I'm also looking forward to the next time I get a chance to talk to these TV stars.
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Laverne's Madame Tussaud's Wax Figure Revealed

While many of you were partying during Pride last weekend, a little history was taking place in San Francisco as Madame Tussaud's unveiled the wax likeness of her.

She is the first out transperson ever to be so honored, and Laverne was on hand for the June 26 ceremony.

“I hope that it gives people a sense of possibility. I think that it’s important that yes, I’m transgender, but I’m also a Black person in America. And I was raised African Methodist Episcopal,” Ms. Cox said in her speech. “So I’m standing here at the intersection of multiple identities, and so I hope that people will be inspired to believe that anything is possible.”

The wax figure will be part of the Madame Tussaud's San Francisco permanent collection, and was part of a special display for pride.

Madame Tussaud's San Francisco is located on Fisherman's Wharf, so check it out the next time you are visiting the city.

Another Day, Another Amazing Laverne Cox Cover

Hey, have I told y;all how much i love my sis Laverne Cox and proud of her ongoing success?  Well, y'all need to read this blog more often

It's another day and  another amazing cover for Laverne, this time on Entertainment Weekly magazine along with an article which talks about her early career struggles, Caitlyn Jenner, and acceptance.

Need to get a copy of this magazine so I can read the article along with the one in which she recently appeared on ESSENCE for the second time.

And Now There Are Eight...RIP London Chanel Allen

After the initial flurry of trans women that were killed in the first two months of 2015, things had gotten quiet on that front in the United States until today.

News stations in Philadelphia are reporting that 21 year old London Chanel Allen was stabbed tin the back and neck after a fight between her and her 31 year old attacker that occurred in an abandoned rowhouse on North Philadelphia at 12:40 AM EDT in the 2200 block of Ingersoll Street

She was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital where she was pronounced dead just after 1 AM., police said.

"My heart goes out to her family, friends and the community as we mourn her death," said Nellie Fitzpatrick, Director of LGBT Affairs for the City of Philadelphia. “I know that the police department will work tirelessly to fully investigate the case."

Allen had a Texas connection.  She was born in Victoria, just 127 miles southwest of Houston and moved to Philadelphia several years ago.   She'd reconciled with her mother Veronica Allen, was in the process of getting her name change done and moving back to Texas when she was murdered

“She was going to go to court to change her name and then she was going to come home," Veronica Allen said. “That’s what we were working towards, but that man took it away from me."

A candlelight vigil is set to be held this Friday at that location, and a bank account has been set up to collect funds to pay to return  London's body back to Texas for burial

But once again, we sadly have another young trans woman of color dead before her 25th birthday.

RIP London

TransGriot Update:  31 year old Raheam Felton has been arrested and charged with London's murder.

Phoenix Drops Unjust 'Walking While Trans' Charges Aimed At Monica Jones

More good news coming from Arizona as we get word that the city of Phoenix prosecutors have dropped all charges against activist Monica Jones.

She was convicted in May 2013 of “manifesting prostitution” after she accepted a ride from an undercover police officer  during a Phoenix antiprostitution sting.

The case garnered international attention and support from Laverne Cox and the ACLU when Jones began speaking out against the unjust law resulting in 'walking while trans' profiling of trans women of color.

The ACLU has argued that the Phoenix law is too vague, in that the behaviors it describes are easily misinterpreted. For example, talking to passersby could be an indication that an individual is lost and seeking directions or that they are canvassing for a political cause.

Jones pointed out to Buzzfeed News  the law seems to target specific groups of people.

“I think there is a bigger issue that needs to be addressed,” Jones explained. “This law needs to be thrown out because it unfairly targets women, transgender women, and people of color living in poverty. Police wouldn’t [arrest] a man standing on the corner talking to a passerby.”

While she won an appeal of her conviction in January that granted her a possible retrial, it still left the constitutionality of the law in question

The decision by Phoenix prosecutors to drop charges came only eight days after Jones and her legal team appealed to a higher appellate court to have the law repealed on constitutional grounds.was timing that Jones' attorney Jean-Jacques Cabou notes, “coincidental to say the least.”

Cabou said he hoped city officials would consider repealing the law, but if not, “we’ll blow it up the next time someone brings a case.”

At the very least, for now, Jones can rest easier, says Cabou.

“The case against [Jones] is officially over. Monica never has anything to fear resulting from her arrest that night. We won a total victory on that front.”

Updates In Two 2015 California Trans Murder Cases.

Have some updated information concerning the trans murder cases of Taja DeJesus and Michelle Yazmin Payne, who were murdered in northern and southern California within days of each other.
I'm happy to report there is good news in both of theses California cases in terms of bringing their killers to justice.

In the Michelle Payne case, 25 year Ezekiel Dear, who has been IDed as the boyfriend of Ms. Payne, turned himself into the LAPD 7th Division headquarters at 3:30 PM PST on February 1 accompanied by a pastor and confessed to killing her.

He was arraigned the next day at the Van Nuys courthouse on one felony count each of murder, with a knife-use allegation, and arson of an inhabited structure or property.

Will continue to keep you posted on this case.

Meanwhile, up I-5 in the Bay Area, the Taja DeJesus case has had a interesting twist.in the suspected perpetrator of the murder of our fallen sister being found dead himself.

49 year old James Hayes was found dead on February 2 hanging by the neck from a fence in the 4000 block of Third Street.  

The location was behind a warehouse a half mile from the crime scene where DeJesus was found stabbed to death, and Hayes was still wearing the clothing he wore when he allegedly stabbed Ms. DeJesus.

A die-in was held in front of San Francisco City Hall to protest the DeJesus killing and the murders of other trans women since June in California and elsewhere across the country.

After an operatic rendition of 'Amazing Grace' by Breanna Sinclaire, trans leaders in the San Francisco area called for an end to transphobia fueling these murders.

"We're still being murdered, harassed, and cast aside. We have to show that our lives matter," said Danielle Castro.

Yes they do, Danielle/   #TransLivesMatter.  #BlackTransLivesMatter   #LatinaTransLivesMatter  And let's hope that the people who have committed these heinous crimes aimed at us  are captured, tried and convicted for killing us.

RIP Penny Proud

New Orleans is another place I call home because I lived in Marrero for two years as a toddler and my god sister still lives there.

I am saddened to report the murder of another trans woman of color courtesy of ELIXHER,

Meet 21 year old Penny Proud of New Orleans. 

She was found dead in the 1100 block of North Claiborne Avenue in the Treme neighborhood at 1:30 AM yesterday (February 10) shot multiple times

And yes, Times-Picayune, read your AP Stylebook.  Every time you misgender a trans feminine murder victim, you send a message that Black Trans Lives Don't Matter to you and the people who wish to kill us..

She makes the fifth transperson killed across this this country in what is starting to take shape as a bloody year for trans murders.   For those of you in the New Orleans area, if you have information that will lead to the capture of the waste of DNA who killed Penny, you can call the New Orleans PD

They are asking anyone with information on this crime to contact Homicide Detective Robert Barrere at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

You could receive a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the responsible person(s). You do not have to give your name nor testify to receive the reward. Citizens can also submit an anonymous tip online to Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppersgno.orgThere will also be a candlelight vigil tonight at the Treme corner where Penny was murdered.  Hope there is a large crowd for it.

Rest in Power Penny.   Know that your NOLA area trans sisters and the rest of us around the country will not rest until justice is served in your case.

Anyone with information about Proud’s murder is asked to contact Homicide Detective Robert Barrere at 504-658-5300, or contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or www.crimestoppersgno.org. - See more at: http://elixher.com/state-of-emergency-black-trans-woman-murdered-in-new-orleans/#sthash.UkqSaDxH.dpuf

LA Vigil For Michelle Yasmine Payne Tonight

New month, but the same old crap we have to deal with as we mourn the death of our 33 year old LA area trans sister Michelle Yasmine Payne.

Payne was found stabbed to death by firefighters called to put out a fire in the Van Nuys apartment she shared with her boyfriend in the 14600 block of Saticoy St yesterday morning.

A murder weapon was recovered at the scene, and there is a person of interest in this crime in Payne.s boyfriend.   He is described as being an African-American male that stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.

If you have information that will result in the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator of this heinous crime , please call the Van Nuys detective desk at 818-374-0040. After-hours calls could be made to 818-374-1999.

If you also have a photo of our fallen sister, please get them to me ASAP.

In other news, LA based trans advocate Bamby Salcedo has organized a vigil for Ms. Payne that will start at 6 PM PST at the 14600 Saticoy St. location.   If you can be there tonight, please do so to honor our sister who was ripped away from us far too soon.

Rest in Power, Michelle Yasmine.   Your sisters will not rest until justice is served in your case.

Angelica Ross Named An MHP Foot Soldier!

I missed the broadcast on Saturday because of cable issues, but was excited to learn that my Chicago homegirl Angelica Ross was named one of the first Melissa Harris-Perry show Foot Soldiers of the Week for 2015!

Angelica is founding CEO of Trans Tech Social Services, and in this segment talks about how tech turned her life around and she's now reaching out to help others.

Congrats Angelica!   Here's the video for those of you who missed the original Nerdland broadcast.

RIP Deshawnda Sanchez

So much for the 2014 Christmas season being devoid of a trans murder.

In the Los Angeles area in the early morning hours of December 3, 21 year old Deshawnda 'Tata' Thomas spent the last moments of her life pounding on the door of a Compton, CA home around 4 AM desperately seeking to escape someone.

That help arrived too late, and she unfortunately became the third trans woman on Southern California to die this year and the eleventh trans woman of color nationally to die since June .

And what's even more distressing to me, she was just 21 years old.

In what may turn out to be a huge break in this case, a surveillance camera at a nearby home caught someone getting out of a car and running toward the porch where Deshawnda was standing.   That person is spotted moments later running back toward he vehicle as it departs at high speed.

A vigil was held Friday night to point out those grim statistics and to loudly restate the point that #TransLivesMatter.



Lets hope the person pr persons responsible for this latest murder of a trans woman of color are swiftly caught and punished.

And the trans community won't rest until that happens.

And Now There Are Eleven- RIP GIzzy Fowler

And with  the November 20 TDOR date looming, it is my sad duty to inform you that  we've lost another transsister to anti-trans violence.

This time we go to Nashville, TN and its north side Bordeaux neighborhood for the latest sister we will be memorializing on November 20.   Her name was Gizzy Fowler, and the 24 year was found shot to death in a private driveway at 3904 Lunn Drive.

Fowler's body was lying next to the open door of her car, a white 2006 Buick LaCrosse on November 12.  Neighbors reported to Nashville PD hearing a gunshot around 4 or 5 AM CST, and were prompted to call the police because the homeowner had recently passed away due to natural causes..

Fowler is now the  eleventh trans woman of color since June to be murdered in the US, with the most recent one being Ashley Sherman in Indianapolis.    And as you probably guessed, the Nashville media did a piss poor job in initially covering the story.

Anyone with information concerning this killing has been asked to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME, or through an electronic tip by texting the word “CASH” along with the message to 274637 (CRIMES) or online at www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com

Rest in Peace Gizzy!   Know that your trans brothers and trans sisters, and all who loved you will not rest until the person who committed this crime is captured and swiftly brought to justice.

And Now There Are Ten-RIP Ashley Sherman

We have lost another transsister to anti-trans violence.

Location this time was Indianapolis, IN, in the Tudor Park Condominiums on the eastern side of the city, and sadly it's another trans woman of color.. 

25 year old Ashley Sherman was found at that location early Monday morning by a patrolling police officer. 

She had been shot in the head, and police are trying to ascertain whether she was killed there or was brought there from another location.  While police are saying this was a homicide, as usual they are not investigating it as a hate crime.
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A vigil was held on Wednesday at that location attended by 100 people, including Sherman's family and friends in which her mother implored the killer come forward.

Will be keeping track of this latest instance of one of our sisters being murdered until the case is satisfactorily resolved.

Rest in power and peace Ashley.   As with the rest of  our fallen sisters, we will not rest until justice is served.

Dwight DeLee Case Hearing October 15

I was majorly pissed off along with many trans people in New York state and across the country when the conviction of Dwight DeLee in the murder of Lateisha Green was overturned on a technicality. 

DeLee was subsequently released from prison, and the case in now back in the NY Court of Appeals after the Onandaga County District Attorney asked the appeals court to review the case.  

After the conviction was overturned, the Onondaga County District Attorney asked the court of appeals to review the case. - See more at: http://centralny.twcnews.com/content/news/central_new_york/708214/dwight-delee-s-overturned-case-to-be-reviewed/#sthash.BPfsSg8V.dpuf

On October 15, the NY Court of Appeals will hold a hearing to decide if the conviction in this case will be reinstated and DeLee can go back to serving that 25 year sentence he got for killing Green back in 2008.

Should have been longer, but it is what it is..

While we're waiting along with Lateisha's family for justice to be served again, here's a petition for you to sign if you wish calling for the reinstatement of DeLee's conviction.

The message needs to be sent that killing a trans woman comes with a cost to the perpetrtors of these heinous acts and that our lives are valuable.

RIP Aniya Parker

We now know the name of our fallen transsister in Los Angeles.    She is 47 year old Aniya Parker., whose friends knew her as Asia. 

 LAPD may not want to call it a hate crime, but when somebody throws a punch at the victim before they shoot them, and leaves the purse behind, it doesn't take a Cal Tech degree to suspect this is a hate crime

She is the eight transperson to die this year in the United States and the second in the Los Angeles area since June.  And  fitting the pattern of all the previous trans murders in the United States in 2014, she is a trans woman of color.

A candlelight vigil was held last night at the Melrose and N. Kenmore Ave corner where she was fatally shot.

The LAPD are still looking for the 2-4 Latino men suspected of being perpetrators of this crime. If you have any information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of these wastes of DNA, you can call them at 1-877-527-3247.

To all the folks  who knew and loved Ariya, we are just as upset and outraged about the untimely  loss of another one of our sisters, and hope justice happens expeditiously in this unfolding case.

And if you have a photo of her, please send it to me.

Tiffany Edwards Case Update

Here's the latest news update in the Tiffany Edwards case courtesy of LGBTQ Nation. 

Quamar Edwards, the 25 year old waste of DNA arrested in the murder of our sister Tiffany after he turned himself in to Cincinnati Police on July 2, was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday on one count each of aggravated robbery, aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, having weapons under disability and tampering with evidence.

Investigators said Quamar Edwards solicited the victim for sex, and fatally shot her following an argument.   So much for his uncle trying to play the 'trans panic defense' card. 

Edwards is currently cooling his heels in the Hamilton County Jail under a $500,000 bond

And as always, I will keep you TransGriot readers posted concerning any new developments in this case.

Suspect In Tiffany Edwards Murder Turns Himself In

Good news out of Cincinnati to report.   

Quamar Edwards, who since Saturday has had a warrant out for his arrest in connection with the senseless murder of Tiffany Edwards, turned himself in yesterday morning to Cincinnati police accompanied by his mother, brother, aunt and uncle,

Edwards showed up at 11 AM EDT at Cincinnati Police headquarters, and while he was being booked, his family attempted to sow the seeds for the trans panic defense in the media while claiming 'this wasn't a hate crime'.

Oh really?  The uncle claims that Tiffany hit on him, Quamar didn't like it and his response is to shoot her and dump her body on a suburban street?   Go sell those transphobic woof tickets somewhere else.

That same day Tiffany's family, who is no relation to the alleged killer, held a vigil at the Tuxedo Place spot in Walnut Hills, OH where her body was found.

"I never expected the support that I'm receiving. I'm glad this vigil couldn't have been on a better day. This guy turned himself in (Wednesday)," Tiffany's mother, Temeka Edwards, said.

Will keep you peeps updated on what's happening in this case until justice is served for our fallen sister.  

Brava, Tona!

History was made last night as Tona Brown stepped on the Weill Recital Hall stage at New York's Carnegie Hall for her show entitled 'From Stonewall to Carnegie Hall'

The show featured the works of African-American composers and in addition to our mezzo soprano violin playing sister, featured Tammy Peay, Nathan James, and Charlie Gilmer.

While I was bummed I couldn't be there, I am hearing through my sources that my Black trans family was in the house, showed up and showed out to support our trailblazing sister.

Speaking of support, the Gofundme campaign is still in effect to help Tona with expenses incurred in putting on this event. Performing at Carnegie Hall isn't cheap, and she did so without corporate financing or support.

Brava, Tona!    Congratulations on making your lifelong dream of performing at Carnegie Hall a phenomenal success. 

200 People Attend Yaz'min Shancez Vigil

Was glad to hear that yesterday's vigil for Yaz'min Shancez in Fort Myers was successful

The march was organized by the Southwest Florida Equality Coalition and the Center of Southwest Florida to remember 'Ms. Tee' as friends and loved ones called our fallen 31 year old sister who was found murdered on Thursday.. 

200 people began a nearly one mile march through Downtown Fort Myers and past the courthouse before arriving at Centennial Park

Her sister Laquesha Loggins remembers how Shancez loved to dance, how she was always happy, saying she "always woke up with a smile."

And she remembers the last words Shancez ever said to her: "Sis, I love you."

"It's just bad that people hate that much," Yazmin's aunt said in a FOX 4 interview. "Who has a heart like that? Who can go to sleep doing something like that? Hating something so bad."

Fort Myers police are still looking for Yazmin's killer, and once again as a reminder, i you have information to help solve this crime and bring to justice the perps or perps who did this, you are asked to please call the Fort Myers Police Department at 239-321-7700, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS or text message C-R-I-M-E-S (274637) Keyword FMPD.

And I will be keeping an eye on this story until justice is served in this case.