NOLA Town Hall On Transgender Violence Today

Because of the deaths of trans women Cyna Gibson and Ciara McElvee that happened in New Orleans during Mardi Gras weekend and the disturbing video that came out in January of some wastes of DNA chasing trans women, this afternoon for those of you in the New Orleans metro area, there will be a town hall to discuss the unacceptable levels of violence being aimed at trans women in the NOLA area.

It's sponsored by Transitions Louisiana, Trans United Fund and the Foundation for Louisiana, and starts at 3;00 PM CST at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D), NOLA District D Councilmember Jared D. Brosset, District E Councilmember James Gray III are just some of the NOLA political leaders who have been invited to attend this town hall.

But most disturbingly, according to founding Executive Director of Transitions Louisiana Jada Mercedes Cardona, Brosset and Gray have yet to even acknowledge receipt of their invitation much less send a response whether they will attend or not.

I'm also curious to find out if anyone from US Rep Cedric Richmond's office will show up for this forum as well.

"I'm interested to see if Councilman Jared C. Brossett, District D (where Clara was killed) and James Gray, District E (where Chyna was killed) are going to show.... They didn't even give us the courtesy of a reply. 

Further proof that some elected officials still ignore us, just believe we will disappear (or die) and don't regard us as whole human beings, worthy of respect. 

I'm glad to see both the Honorable Councilman Jason Williams, Council at-Large and The Honorable Councilwoman Latoya Cantrell step up and are willing to listen and help us formulate a plan to improve relations between their constituents!!!!"

At large Councilman Jason Williams, and District B Councilwoman Latoya Cantrell are confirmed attendees for this forum scheduled to run for two hours.

If you're attending this town hall, it's taking place at the First UU Church of New Orleans, located at 2903 Jefferson Ave and Claiborne St.

Hope the event is a successful one, and I also hope to hear that the church is packed with people and NOLA political leaders and law enforcement wishing to come up with concrete steps to solve the problem of anti-trans violence in the NOLA area.

I also hope that when this forum is done, it will also begin the process in NOLA of getting people to recognize that trans lives matter, we have the right to exist, and we are worthy of respect.
 

Lake County, FL Needs Help With This Trans Cold Case Death

Back in 1988, the body of a trans woman was found decomposing in the woods in the Four Corners area along County Road 474.   Julie Doe as they call her was found wearing a greenish tank top, a long acid washed jean skirt with partially pulled down pantyhose.

Julie Doe also had breast implants,long dyed blonde hair, long manicured nails, was estimated to be between 24-33  years of age and was 5 feet 11.  At the time her remains were tested, the result indicated she was a cis woman who had given birth to one or more children.  

Julie Doe's remains were recently retested as part of a Florida initiative to revist cold cases, and with the new forensic technology gave the result she was a trans feminine woman.

Items of clothing found with Julie Doe's body were send to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab in Tallahassee, and  Detective Tamara Dale is hoping that once the results come back in several weeks, it will lead to clues that will help them generate leads in the case.

"I'm hoping their will be foreign DNA on her clothing and if so interview that person as someone who would have had contact with Julie near the time of her death," said Detective Dale in an Orlando Sentinel interview

She also hoping that the renewed interest in the case generates leads that will identify who she is.

"I would love to identify Julie so she can have a proper burial and so her friends and family can have closure on their missing loved one," said Detective Dale.  "I don't think anyone should have o lie unidentified in a laboratory while their family wonders what happened to them."

If you have any information concerning this case, please call the Lake County, FL Sheriff's office at 352-343-2101 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477

NoMoreDownLow.TV Upcoming Show On Unsolved Black LGBT Murders

NoMoreDownLow.TV is in its third season of broadcasting shows about the African American SGL, trans and bi community from our perspective.

It is executive produced by Earnest Winborne and broadcast its first episode three years ago on October 11, 2010 (Happy Anniversary!). 

On the next episode of NoMoreDownLow.TV it will broadcast a special report entitled: Unsolved Black LGBT Murders, Attacks, and Hate Crimes with its hosts Janora McDuffie, Kendell Hogan, Mark Noble and Lawrencia Dandridge.

Show will be posted this Sunday, October 13th, so you may wish to check it out.

Janet Mock NY Anti-Violence Project Courage Award Speech

Speaking of people who will probably need to build trophy cases for the awards, deserved recognition and accolades they are getting, Janet Mock and Laverne Cox both received 2013 Courage Awards from the New York City Anti Violence Project on September 26.

During her acceptance speech, Janet spoke about the recently murdered Eyricka Morgan, who remains misgendered by Newark Star-Ledger stenographer Sue Epstein because she refuses to change her original inaccurate story. 

Shoot At A Black Transwoman, Get Out Of Jail Free

Been keeping up with the ongoing story of Kenneth Furr, the inebriated Washington DC cop who while off duty shot at a group of Black transwomen and their friends.after one refused his unwanted advances in a NW Washington CVS drugstore back in August 2011. 

He was convicted back on October 27 of assault with a deadly weapon and soliciting prostitution. Furr had been suspended without pay from Washington Metro PD pending resolution of this ugly incident in which two of the transwomen were wounded and one of the wounded men was hospitalized. .

Furr was facing up to 10 years in jail and another 90 days for the solicitation charge, but I'll bet you can guess what happened during the sentencing phase yesterday.   .

Furr was sentenced to 60 months in jail with 46 months of it suspended.  That left 14 months of his jail time to be served, and isn't it convenient that is the exact amount of time Furr has already served in the Iron Bar Motel.    Long story short, Furr got to walk out a free man.

The DC Trans Coalition was understandably outraged about the jacked up sentence. 

“This result is the product of a legal system that constantly devalues trans people’s lives,” said DC Trans Coalition member Jason Terry. “Officer Furr’s defense team actively sought to portray the victims as somehow deserving of this violence, and apparently they succeeded. If roles had been reversed and a trans woman had gotten drunk and flashed a gun at a police officer, the results would be drastically different.” It is important to note that Furr was convicted only of flashing a weapon at two gay men involved in the incident, not for shooting at the trans women and others involved.

“Officer Furr exemplifies why this fear exists,” said Terry. “DC’s trans communities face blatant discrimination, harassment, and violence from police officers every day, yet when an officer drunkenly shoots at trans people, accountability seems to disappear.”

Yep, the justice just-us system just sent another unspoken message to the Black trans community in the District and all those who hate us inside I-495.   Shoot at a Black transwoman, and get out of jail free for doing so if you go to jail at all.  

TransGriot Update: Furr got three years of supervised probation, a $150 fine, and 100 hours of community service...whoopee (sarcasm meter on maximum)

Jury Selection Starts In Kenneth Furr Trial

I been keeping up with the ongoing case involving former Washington Metro PD officer Kenneth Furr.

You'll recall TransGriot readers that back in August 2011 an off-duty and inebriated Furr got pissed because a trans woman ignored his disrespectful proposition to her at a NW Washington CVS store.

He chased them down, jumped on the hood of their vehicle and used his service revolver to fire shots at them.  Furr was iindicted on March 7 for that incident which left two trans women and their male companion with thankfully non-life threatening injuries.

Furr's trial started on Monday.   He plead not guilty and jury selection is happening now.  Will keep you posted on what happens in it and if the transwomen and the male friend involved get justice.  

Virginia Trans Hate Attack Update-Charges Dropped

Back on May 21, 2011 transwoman Ahnesia Jett was attacked and beaten by three and possibly four people outside a 7-Eleven at approximately 3:30 PM near Fredericksburg, VA led by then 18 year old Laqueta Webb and her boyfriend Farkeem French.

Jett claimed the attackers uttered transphobic slurs in the attack in which she was kicked, punched and beaten with a metal broom handle that happened a month after Chrissy Polis was attacked in neighboring Maryland.  Webb and French were arrested and charged with two felony counts of malicious wounding and malicious wounding by mob.

Allen Frye, Jr, the third person charged in the trans hate attack on Jett plead guilty last year to a misdemeanor assault charge and was sentenced to a year in jail with all but 15 days suspended.  

Back in February according to Fredericksburg.com the prosecutor was unable to proceed because Sharon Forsyth, the only witness to come forward was a no show.

Webb and French faced the judicial music at the Fredericksburg Circuit Court June 21 and walked out of the front doors of it after the charges were dropped due to Jett and Sharon Forsyth failing to show in court for the trial.   

A defense motion that the charges be permanently dropped was denied, leading to speculation that the felony charges Webb and French are facing in this case could be reinstated, but it is highly unlikely according to the Examiner's Tammy Reed 

DC Cop Kenneth Furr Going To Trial For Trans Shooting Incident

There's an update in the ongoing case of D.C. cop Kenneth D. Furr, who was involved in an ugly August 2011 shooting incident that involved two transwomen and their cis male companions in NW Washington. 

It resulted in him discharging his service revolver at the car they were riding in and causing non life threatening injuries to three of the people in that vehicle.

He was also inebriated at the time of the August 26 incident. 

The shooting incident happened in the wake of transwoman Lashai Mclean being killed in July 2011 and another transwoman being shot in the same neighborhood a week later where Mclean died but surviving the attack.

A D.C. Superior Court Grand Jury handed down a nine count indictment against Furr on March 7 which includes six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of solicitation for prostitution.

Furr's court status hearing was held on May 24 and D.C. Superior Court Judge Ann O’Reagan Keary denied a request by attorneys representing Officer Furr that he be released or the conditions of his bond be changed. 

Furr's trial will start October 15 and I'll continue to keep you  updated on what transpires in this case as it winds to its conclusion.

Alrashim Chambers Trial-Foster Testifies

The murder trial of Alrashim Chambers, the accused killer of Victoria Carmen White continued in dramatic fashion on Thursday in the Essex County courthouse in Newark, NJ.

The prosecution brought their star witness to the stand in Marquise Foster, who testified in graphic detail that after both had sexual encounters with Carmen White, Chambers came to believe she was trans, pulled out a pearl handled gun and pointed it at White as she raised her hands and backed away.

Foster's testimony came a day after Carmen's cousin Sharon White and Natasha Wray gave their testimony about the events that unfolded on that fateful September 2010 night.

After Chambers asked 'You a dude?' according to Foster, Chambers fired three shots at Ms. White who was later pronounced dead at the scene.     


“He said he couldn’t live with nobody saying he slept with a man,” Foster told Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Eileen O’Connor on direct examination.  

As the two men drove off after the shooting, Foster recalled, Chambers kept saying, “ ‘My bad.’ … He was apologetic.”

'My bad' doesn't bring Victoria Carmen White back, you pathetic waste of DNA.  All you and Foster had to do was get the hell up and leave the apartment.  If you'd done so your transphobic azz wouldn't be facing life in prison now where you'll be sleeping with hardcore dudes for real if you're convicted. 

Neither will they be saying please and thank you when they toss your salad.
  
Ahem, back to the post. 

Foster's testimony was given in front of a large Essex County courtroom crowd comprised of family members and supporters from both sides of the case and fortified by beefed up security.

Defense attorney Bukie Adetula is trying to paint Foster as the shooter and for some reason was fixated on the amorous events of the evening. 

Under cross examination Foster admitted he had a sexual encounter that evening with Carmen White in the living room moments after Chambers did despite White initially rebuffing his advances.  "I thought the person was attractive. I thought she was nice-looking,” Foster said of White, adding he never questioned whether she was a woman like Chambers did.

Is Adetula trying to lay the groundwork for a 'trans panic' defense?  


The trial resumes tomorrow with the defense presenting their case after police investigators and forensics experts take the witness stand.

Will keep you posted. 

Alrashim Chambers Murder Trial Update

Alrashim Chambers is the alleged killer of transwoman Victoria Carmen White. His murder trial started in Newark ironically on April 30, the day that Victoria Carmen White would have been celebrating her 30th birthday.

It has been chugging along in the Essex County Courthouse while the eyes of the trans community were fixed on the CeCe McDonald trial happening in Minneapolis that started the same day and others were mourning the murders of Paige Clay in Chicago and Brandy Martell in Oakland.. 

To bring y'all up to speed on the story of Victoria Carmen White, the 28 year Maplewood, NJ model met Chambers at a nightclub in Irvington, NJ while on a girls night out with her cousin Sharon White and Natasha Wray in September 2010. 

They returned to Sharon White's Maplewood apartment and when Chambers discovered she was trans he shot her multiple times.  Carmen White was pronounced dead at the scene and Chambers was arrested a month later along with Marquise Foster.  

Chambers was arraigned back in July 2011 on murder and bias intimidation charges and is facing in prison if justice is served in this case.  Foster was also indicted for murder but plead guilty to a lesser sentence in exchange for his testimony against Chambers..


Carmen's cousin Sharon White and Natasha Wray were in the apartment's bathroom at the time of the murder and testified Tuesday on behalf of the prosecution     Ms. White and Ms. Wray both testified that Chambers was kissing Carmen White and went to the bathroom to give the couple some privacy.   Foster was on his phone at the time.

When the bathroom door briefly swung open at one point, the women saw Carmen White leaning against Chambers, with her shirt partially pulled up.

"I yelled to my cousin, was she good," Sharon White testified. "She said she was ok."

Minutes later, the party turned deadly when Sharon White and Wray both testified they heard a man yell: "You a dude?" followed by three gunshots.

The bathroom door was closed at that moment so neither Sharon White or Wray could tell who fired the shots. They also couldn’t ascertain who uttered the statement, the tone of which sounded like "a question, with anger," as Sharon White put it.

In his previous statement to police, Marquise Foster said he and Chambers both had sexual encounters with Carmen White during those few minutes when the women were in the bathroom, but that only the defendant suspected she was a trans woman.

The trial continues with Sharon White and Natasha Wray's testimony, and as I hear the updates from it, I'll pass them on to you TransGriot readers.

Paige Clay Rally Tonight

For those of you in the Chicago area, there will be a 'Justice For Paige' rally tonight hosted by the Taskforce for Prevention and Community Services. 

The rally will be held from 6:30-9 PM CDT at their offices located at 9 N. Cicero Ave.

The wake and funeral for Paige Clay if you wish to attend it will be held at Acklin Funeral Home, 1325 W. 87th St. in Chicago on Friday, May 4.   The wake will run from 3-4 PM CDT with Funeral services commencing shortly after from 4-5 PM CDT

Transwoman Brandy Martell Killed In Oakland

Another day, another Black transwoman killed somewhere. and as a Daily Kos post noted, nobody gave a damn.   Correction, nobady gave a damn except her friends, family and other Black transwomen and our allies around the country who are saying to themselves there but for the grace of God go I.

Hell, Paige Clay still hasn't been buried yet in Chicago, and we're talking about the murder of yet another one of our African descended transsisters.    We now have to add 37 year old Brandy Martell's name to the depressingly lengthening list of people whose names we'll be lighting candles for and reading at the 2012 TDOR.
















Martell according to a news report was shot to death April 29 in downtown Oakland at Franklin and 13th Street just a block from city hall while sitting behind the steering wheel of her car.   

According to what a witness told Laura Anthony of ABC7, Martell was sitting behind the wheel of her car around 5:15 AM PDT  Sunday when one or two men walked up and began a conversation that appeared cordial on the surface but a few moments later one of the men became angry and fired into the car at Martell.

Until late last year, Martell worked as an outreach worker at the Tri-City Health Center in Fremont, CA  which serves the local trans community.

According to a note posted on my FB page courtesy of Tanajsha Thomas the homegoing service will take place on Wednesday May 9 at 11 AM PDT at C.P. Bannon Mortuary .  Address for those of you in the Bay Area wishing to attend is 6800 International Blvd,. Oakland, CA. 94621.

"When you don't provide a space in society for people who you think are the other or different, especially transgender women, especially transgender women of color, when you don't provide spaces for them to be in a safe environment or a safe space, whether it's socializing or services, this is what happens," said Martell's friend Tiffany Woods to ABC7.

Martell's friends also suspect like we all do this murder is an anti-trans hate crime.   But until the wastes of DNA who killed her are apprehended and brought to justice, all we have is suspicion, another famiily having to make burial arrangements for a loved one, and her friends and colleagues mourning the passing of someone who died way too fracking soon.

CeCe McDonald's Trial Starts Today

CeCe McDonald's trial starts today in Minneapolis and is expected to last two weeks.   

Her case has been getting increased publicity in the last few weeks but not enough to stave off this trial from happening or getting District Attorney Michael Freeman to drop the charges.. 

Now that it's happening, for those of you in the Minneapolis St Paul metro area, it might be a wonderful idea to pack the courtroom in support of CeCe

All we can do now is watch it, pray and hope that justice prevails.

Another Day, Another Young Transwoman Murdered

This time it was in Chicago.   According to the Windy City Times 23 year old Paige Clay was found shot to death in the West Garfield Park neighborhood in an alley in the 4500 block of W. Jackson Blvd Monday morning. 

Clay was identified by several people in the Chicago rainbow community to the Windy City Times, who were acquainted with her from the city's ballroom scene and from interacting with her at local TBLG agencies.

Clay was found with a gunshot wound to the forehead.  The waste (or wastes) of DNA who committed the crime have yet to be apprehended and brought to justice.

Modesto Tico Valle, the Center on Halsted CEO, released the following statement in response to the news:

"Though we do not have all the details, this news is extremely disturbing, especially as severe violence against transgender women is all too common. Transgender women face some of the highest rates of violence and abuse in our nation. This is the third reported murder of a transgender woman in the U.S. in April alone.

"We must work together to create more safety in our world for all people, especially those most targeted."

A remembrance for Clay is being organized in the community and as I receive the details about it I will pass them on to you TransGriot readers in the Chicago area who may wish to pay your respects.

As always I'll be keeping track of any details concerning this crime and about the latest transwomen who will sadly be added to the 2012 Remembering our Dead list.

Arrests Made In The Murder Of Agnes Torres Hernandez

Was happy to hear that arrests have been made in the case of murdered Mexican trans activist Agnes Torres Hernandez.

According to xQsi Magazine blog Luis Fernando Bravo, Agustín Flores,  Marco Antonio Especie, and Agnes’ most recent partner Jorge Flores have all been arrested and charged by the Puebla state attorney general with her murder.  A fifth suspect that is believed to be a minor has yet to be named.

xQsi Magazine in the same post had information about Agnes Torres Sulca, another Mexican trans activist based in the Yucatan area who was murdered March 10.  Based on information gathered by authorities investigating her killing, 18 year old Luis Fernando Bueno Mazzoco was arrested in Merida.  He confirmed his participation in the murder of Torres Sulca which has also drawn international outrage and condemnation.

Here's hoping the Mexican justice system gives these perpetrators the punishment they all deserve for taking the lives of these courageous women. 

 .

One In Four Includes Us Transwomen, Too

I was perusing my Facebook feed this afternoon when this comment jumped out at me.  It's a short conversation TransGriot contributing writer Pamela Hayes had with another transwoman in which Pam gave her a liberal dose of Reality 101.

They were talking about the subject of transwomen getting attacked or murder by hatemongers  when the transwoman in question parted her lips to say to Pam  "We look pretty, so no one will mess with us."

Really?   Take it away, Pam

Could anybody be that fucking naive. I'm sure there are haters who would want to annihilate a trans woman for being attractive and poised; for living in a nice home, driving a new car, having more education. For daring to be who they are and make no apologies for it. Most people who assault and maim GLBT people are losers. They are angry, disenfranchished, on society's periphery. And for any trans woman to suggest that no one will attack her because she is pretty is talking gibberish to say the least. Boy, I'd like to say more on this subject, but I'm at work. She insisted that she never heard of an attractive t-woman getting attacked, that that always happens to girls that don't look good. Utterly preposterous!

And flies in the face of logic and reason to boot.   One in four women will experience a sexual assault within their lifetimes and it ain't about how they look.  This is a crime of opportunity, aggression and power.

That one in four figure includes us transwomen.   While Pam and I have both been fortunate enough thank God to have not experienced that situation, I am keenly aware of other transwomen who have experienced and are coping with the aftermath of a sexual assault or anti-trans violence aimed at them..

I have also experienced having a transwoman I'm personally acquainted with being added to the Remembering Our Dead list and having two others I knew before the list existed fall victim to anti-trans hate murders.

As my gender therapist Dr. Collier Cole and my endo Dr. Lee Emery once told me, you get the good and the bad with transition.  Being a walking target for sexual assault is part of the bad. 

So is some random fool wanting to kill you because you are happily living your life as a transwoman or whatever other reason invades their warped minds.

And to that ignorant transwoman who shall remain nameless, there are plenty of attractive transwomen who are unfortunately six feet underground because someone hated them enough to kill them.



TransGriot Note: Photo is of Stacy Blahnik Lee of Philadelphia, whose killer is still at large.

RIP Agnes Torres Hernandez

The international community of trans activists is one in which we are not only a close knit bunch, we tend to form friendships for life as we get to know each other.

When we're not busy e-mailing and chatting with each other trading strategy, tactics and information as to what has worked and what hasn't in our struggles in our various nations to advance trans human rights coverage, we'll quickly shit to what's happening in our personal lives or give each other the moral and emotional support we'll need to continue to do a job we all know can be a tough one.  

We are also painfully aware that in some nations, being an out, proud and open trans human rights activist takes tremendous courage because it can lead to being harassed by the powers that be you are fighting.  It can also be a death sentence as Cynthia Nicole Moreno's 2009 death in Honduras sadly pointed out.

Sadly, I won't get the pleasure to meet Agnes Torres Hernandez. 

Agnes Torres Hernandez was a 28 year old psychologist and educator fighting for the human rights of our trans brothers and sisters in Mexico.  She disappeared last Friday after leaving her home in Puebla to attend a party in the small town of Chipilo.   Her body was found with her throat slashed, burn marks on it and clothed only in her underwear, a blouse with suspenders and a brown jacket.

Hernandez was becoming an important TBLG human rights voice in Mexico for her trans brothers and sisters, and 2000 people gathered in Puebla's central town square to demand justice for her murder.   

It is the sixth crime aimed at members of the Mexican TBLG community that has yet to see even one of them solved and a perpetrator brought to justice. 

While her voice has sadly been stilled, the fight continues for trans human rights coverage around the world and her trans brothers and sisters in her homeland and elsewhere will not rest until it happens..

TransGriot Note:  Read this open letter from Bamby Salcedo the publisher of xQsi Magazine, which covers Latin@ trans issues.   It concerns her thoughts about the senseless murder of Agnes Torres.

\n"; document.getElementById('resselect').value=zoomres; } -->

\n"; document.getElementById('resselect').value=zoomres; } -->

\n"; document.getElementById('resselect').value=zoomres; } -->

\n"; document.getElementById('resselect').value=zoomres; } -->

\n"; document.getElementById('resselect').value=zoomres; } -->

\n"; document.getElementById('resselect').value=zoomres; } -->

\n"; document.getElementById('resselect').value=zoomres; } -->