Black Trans Woman Brandi Seals is the 25th Transgender Person Reported Murdered in 2017

She was 26 years old. Her name was Brandi Seals. She lived in Houston, Texas. She was a black trans woman. And she is now the 25th transgender person to be murdered in the US during 2017.

According to reports from Houston media, it was just around 6 a.m. Wednesday, December 13, when neighbors heard gunshots. This particular report misgenders and deadnames Brandi.

“I heard six of them,” describes neighbor Ollie Carter. “Boom, boom, boom! Then a silence. And then boom! Then boom, boom!”

The bullets struck her car, the neighbor’s garage, and Brandi Seals who was fatally wounded. Her family was interviewed on the scene. It is obvious that they are devastated, but the reporting by the Houston Fox affiliate is truly atrocious.

The media and police misgender her, deadname her, slip in coy references to prostitution as context for her murder, and generally did a terrible, disrespectful, and unprofessional job.

There is no public information yet in this investigation. Anyone with information should please call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477)

According to Monica Roberts at TransGriot:
Two vigils are being planned. One is being organized by Dee Dee Watters at the Sunnyside location where Brandi died starting at 7 PM tonight. Another will take place at City Hall at 5 PM Friday.

Monica herself is a black trans woman who lives in Houston. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for her, but I don’t have to imagine because she is upfront and outspoken about this ongoing violence targeting her community. If you are outraged, I urge you to start following her on Twitter and reading her blog.

Rest in power, Brandi. Your life was beautiful and you deserve to be honored in death. You deserve better.

The list of trans people killed in 2017 thus far. Note that people have different numbers based on different factors. The most important thing that unites us all is that we want the violence to stop. We need to keep asking ‘Where is the outrage?’

Mesha Caldwell – Mississippi (January 4), 41 years old
Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow – Sioux Falls (January 7), 28 years old
JoJo Striker – Toledo, Ohio (February 8), 23 years old
KeKe Collier – Chicago (February 21), 24 years old
Chyna Gibson – New Orleans (February 25), 31 years old
Ciara McElveen – New Orleans (February 27), 26 years old
Jaquarrius Holland (Brown) – Monroe, Louisiana (February 19), 18 years old
Alphonza Watson – Baltimore (March 22), 38 years old
Chay Reed – Miami-Dade (April 19), 28 years old
Brenda Bostick – New York City (April 25), 59 years old
Sherrell Faulkner – Charlotte, NC (May 16), 46 years old
Kenne McFadden – San Antonio (June 6), 27 years old
Josie Berrios – Ithaca, NY (June 13), 28 years old
Ava Le’Ray Barrin – Athens, GA (June 25), 17 years old
Ebony Monroe – Lynchburg, VA (July 2), 28 years old
Tee Tee Dangerfield – Atlanta, GA (July 31), 32 years old
Gwynevere River Song – Waxahachie, TX (August 12), 26 years old
Kiwi Herring – St. Louis (August 22), 30 years old
Kashmire Redd – Gates, NY ( September 4), 28 years old
Derricka Banner – Charlotte, NC (September 12), 26 years old
Ally Steinfeld – Texas County, MO (September 4*), 17 years old – date still to be confirmed
Stephanie Montez – Robstown, TX (October 21), 47 years old
Candace Towns – Macon, GA (October 31), 30 years old
Brooklyn BreYanna Stevenson – Oklahoma City, OK (November 27), 31 years old
Brandi Seals – Houston, TX (December 13), 26 years old

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