A Black
transgender woman was found dead in Houston on November 20, Transgender Day of
Remembrance, when a passerby discovered her body while walking on a road.
Houston police
said cops who responded to a call that Friday evening found a 22-year-old
victim in the roadway at 3400 East Greenridge Drive. The victim was found with
stab wounds at approximately 10:20 p.m. and paramedics who arrived at the scene
pronounced her dead.
The police
department has withheld identification of the victim pending verification from
the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, but the local
ABC News affiliate in Houston and others have identified her as
22-year-old Asia Jynaé Foster. ABC further reported that investigators are
considering the possibility that Foster’s body was dumped onto the road.
When reached
by phone on November 25, a Houston police spokesperson referred Gay City News
to the latest update in the case from November 23 when the department confirmed
that investigators are probing the fatal shooting. No arrests have been made
and it does not appear any significant developments have emerged in the days
since the victim was discovered.
Foster’s
family and friends held a vigil two days after her death at Montrose Grace
Place (MGP), a safe space for homeless and other LGBTQ youth in Houston. Foster
appears to have been associated with the organization.
“It saddens
and pisses us off that we’re making another post about an MGP youth taken from
us by anti-trans violence,” Montrose Grace Place noted in a Facebook post.
“Asia was outgoing, funny, and she could put together a read that left everyone
around her scrambling to pick up their jaws. We’re saving a seat next to Tracy
for you Asia. We love you.”
Tracy
Single, a 22-year-old Black transgender woman, was found dead on the
ground in Houston in July 2019. Her body had puncture wounds and severe
lacerations.
Congresmember
Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Houston, spoke out following Foster’s death
and urged her colleagues on Capitol Hill to work jointly toward eradicating the
deadly violence plaguing transgender and non-binary individuals.
“We should all
mourn the senseless violent murder of Asia Foster, a transgender woman of
color,” Jackson wrote on Twitter. “These murders have happened one after
another. This appears to be a directed violent attack on innocent women because
of who they are.”
Jackson added,
“There must be a swift and quick investigation, and the alleged perpetrators
must be brought to justice. I am seeking to pass federal legislation to
investigate this repetitive national violence against transgender women of
color. Enough is enough!”
Foster’s death
is the latest in an ongoing string of murders this year targeting transgender
or non-binary individuals, especially Black transgender women. Foster
is the 38th known trans or non-binary individual to suffer a violent
death this year — the most on record — according to the Human Rights Campaign.
The fatal
shooting occurred just over a month after longtime trans activist and
blogger Monica
Roberts suffered a fatal medical emergency at 3030 Elmside Drive in
Houston, just four miles west of the location where Foster’s body was found.
Roberts’ death sent shockwaves throughout the LGBTQ community and contributed
to what has been a tragic year for transgender and non-binary Americans.
SOURCE: GAY CITY NEWS
Gobsmacked.
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