Two
transgender women in separate states were shot and killed inside their homes on
May 4th, as the nation’s violence against trans folks continued at a record
pace for the year. El Nuevo Georgia reported Sophie Vásquez, 36, a Latinx transgender woman, was shot
and killed in her apartment in Brookhaven, Georgia, while WMAR reported Danny Henson, 31, a Black transgender woman, was shot and
killed inside her home in Baltimore, Maryland. Like many other transgender
victims of violence, Vásquez was misgendered and deadnamed in police reports,
while Henson was also misgendered by a friend in the press.
“I’m still
emotional, but I’m trying to hold it together,” Michael Henson, Danny’s
brother, told WMAR as he fought back tears.
Police in
Baltimore found Henson’s body in her home on Williston Street after being
called about a unresponsive person in the residence. Family said she had
recently begun her transition. No further information was provided, but Michael
believes Danny might have been in a fight earlier with someone they knew and might
have been involved with more seriously.
Also on the
same day, Sophie Vásquez was shot and killed in her apartment in Brookhaven,
Georgia. Like in the case of Henson, police released few details about her
killing or possible suspects. According to Darlene Darlington Wagner, president
of Transgender Day of Remembrance Atlanta, Vásquez was misgendered and deadnamed in the police report. A
vigil to honor Vásquez has been organized by Community Estrella for May 12,
from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Earlier this
month, ballroom legend Jahaira DeAlto, a member of the House of Balenciago, was
horrifically killed in Massachusetts. Police say she was one of two women brutally stabbed to death in front of two small children in
Dorchester on Sunday, May 2. The children were unharmed, and a dog found
stabbed next to DeAlto survived.
2020 was the
deadliest year ever for the trans community, with a record 45 violent killings, but 2021 is already on pace
to top that number. The previous high was 31 in 2017, but the true number of
victims will never be known because many go unreported or are misgendered in
death. Trans women of color were disproportionately impacted by the violence.
SOURCE: OUT DOT COM
Horrifying. The epidemic continues and no one appears to care. Sad.
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