She is at
least the 36th trans, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming American who has died
by violence this year, most of them Black or Latinx women.
Monaee’s death
has so far been reported only by individuals and organizations, not media outlets.
Little information about her has circulated, and some of it is conflicting. The
National Black Justice Coalition gives her name as Disaya Monaee Smith, while
the Human Rights Campaign lists her as simply Disaya Monaee. The website for
the Chicago-based Higgins Family Funeral Home lists a D'isaya Smith who
died September 6 and gives her age as 27, while HRC lists her as 32. Her death
was first reported by Beverly Ross on Instagram.
But
organizations are united in mourning the death of yet another Black trans
woman. “We mourn the loss of Disaya Monaee Smith,” NBJC Deputy Executive
Director Victoria Kirby York said in a press release. “2021 is on track to be the deadliest
year on record for transgender and nonbinary people — and in Chicago, Disaya
Monaee Smith’s killing marks the fourth transgender person to be murdered in the
Chicago region this year alone. Illinois, Dolton, and county police departments
must do more to proactively prevent the continued loss of trans lives happening
across their city.”
“The epidemic
of violence plaguing the transgender community, particularly Black transgender
women, is appalling,” said a statement from Tori Cooper, director of community
engagement for HRC's Transgender Justice Initiative. “It is often the result of
a toxic combination of transphobia, racism, and misogyny. We must do more to
protect trans lives and provide resources to support the trans community.”
Dolton police detectives are investigating Monaee’s death but have not arrested
a suspect, according to HRC.
In 2020, 44 trans, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming people were
reported to have died by violence. This was a record for the eight years or so
that activists and LGBTQ+ media have been keeping track. In any year, there are
likely many more such deaths that go unreported or misreported due to
deadnaming and misgendering.
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
No comments:
Post a Comment