Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

30 year old Noony Norwood was shot to death in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, November 5, 2016. She died of her injuries the next morning. She is remembered with love by her friends and chosen family.

‘Noony’s energy always brightened the room. She cared about her community and always lifted up and supported her friends and family’, said Zakia McKensey, Founder and Executive Director of Nationz Foundation and long-time friend of Noony’s.

Noony’s aunt.

“She was a wonderful person, and they took somebody great from us, seriously,” she said.

While Wright and Norwood were not related by blood, Wright says they may as well have been, as they were a part of a close knit community. 

“I just want people to know that, that was a beautiful person truly, would give you anything,” explained Wright.”Would help anybody without even a second thought.”

It was four days after her 30th birthday.  I do not have many details on the circumstances of her death or any plans for her final arrangements.

The investigation continues. Richmond Police are continuing to investigate her death and have released a photo of a person of interest in the case. The Virginia Anti-Violence Project says Norwood’s death is the 23rd reported killing of a transgender/gender non-conforming person in 2016. From MSNews. Note that by my count the total is 25, but either way is still horrible.

Noony’s Facebook page is filled with loving messages of disbelief and sorrow from her friends and family. Her life touched so many people and it is heartbreaking to learn of her death. Rest in power, Noony. May those who know what happened speak their truth to bring your story justice and bring some closure for your family and friends. May you know peace. May we continue to seek justice in your name and the names of all we have lost this year.

I’m fully aware that I’m writing this post on the very day that we as a nation are voting our Presidency from our first black President to our first women President. To see a black trans woman’s death acknowledge on this day is utterly tragic, utterly necessary and a sad reflection on the modern LGBTQ experience  –  the modern experience for black trans women in our nation.

Here is a list of the neighbors lost during 2016.

1. Monica Loera – Austin, Texas (January 22)
2. Jasmine Sierra – Bakersfield, California (January 22)
3. Kayden Clarke –  Mesa, Arizona (February 4)
4. Maya Young – Philadelphia (February 20)
5. Suspicious death of Veronica Cano – San Antonio (February 20)
6. Demarkis Stansberry – Baton Rouge (February 27)
7. Kedarie/Kandicee Johnson – Burlington, Iowa (March 2)
8. Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum (Kourtney Yochum) – Los Angeles (March 22)
9. Shante Thompson – Houston (April 9)
10. Keyonna Monroe Blackeney – Rockville, MD (April 16)
11. Reecey Walker – Wichita (May 1)
12. Mercedes Successful – Haines City, FL (May 15)
13. Amos Beede (Burrlington, VT), 38 years old
14. Goddess Diamond (New Orleans, LA), 20 years old
15. Dee Dee Dodds (Washington D.C.), 22 years old
16. Dee Whigham (Biloxi, Mississippi), 25 years old
17. Skye Mockabee – Cleveland (July 30) 26 years old
18. Erykah Tijerina – El Paso (August 8) 36 years old
19. Rae’Lynn Thomas – Columbus (August 10) 28 years old
20. T.T. Saffore – Chicago (September 11) 26 or 27 years old
21. Lexxi Sironen – Maine (September 6) 43 years old
22. Crystal Edmonds – Baltimore (September 16) 32 years old
23. Jazz Alford – Birmingham (September 23) 30 years old
24. Brandi Bledsoe – Cleveland (October 8) 32 years old
25. Noony Norwood – Richmond (November 6) 30 years old