Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Naomie Skinner was a 25-year-old Black trans woman from Kentucky.

On Saturday, February 12, 2022, she became the third trans person reported dead in 2022. Per The Detroit News:

A Highland Park man is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend after an argument escalated and then dragging her body out of an apartment and into a hallway before fleeing, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Michael Cortez Norris, 26, is accused of killing Naomi Skinner, 25, also a Highland Park resident, Wayne County prosecutors said.

Police responded to a 911 call around 1:33 a.m. Saturday in an apartment building in the 14200 block of 2nd Avenue in Highland Park. 

Police found Skinner in a fourth-floor hallway of the building dead from a gunshot wound to the neck.

He’s in custody.

Norris has been charged with second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and felony firearm. He was arraigned Monday in 30th District Court and given a $500,000 cash bond. He will have to wear a GPS tether if he posts bond.

Naomie’s family needs to raise $2000 to bring her remains home from Detroit to Kentucky. You can find the crowdfund here and I urge you to give.

Naomie was from Kentucky but lived in several parts of the region including Clarksville and Nashville. It is unclear if she was living or visiting Detroit. She graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School. She had worked as a residential aide, at a local McDonalds, Hardees, and other jobs.

Her friends praise her for her good sense of humor, her devotion to them, and her loyalty.

Advocates say domestic violence reports by trans women are on the rise during the pandemic:

Abad is an LGBT victim advocate for Wayne County. She is concerned transgender people don’t know where to turn for help – but she wants them to leave abusive situations – before it’s too late.

“Unfortunately if it happens once, the statistics show that it’s going to happen again and with time, it’s going to get worse,” Abad said.

Advocates say they’ve seen the severity of violence in these domestic situations intensify during the pandemic.

“Much more lethal – much more reports of use of weapons,” said Lori Kitchen-Buschel.

The community can support her family with their request to bring her remains home and continue to work with advocates developing supports for victims and survivors of domestic violence. This requires more investment in trans-led programming, a refusal to back down on a fully inclusive Equality Act in spite of pressure from some selfish SOB’s, and trusting that trans women know what is best for them.

Final arrangements have not yet been listed.

Naomie is the third transgender person reported as a victim of fatal violence in 2022. She is the third Black trans woman. All victims to date were Black trans women, both under the age of 26. Their deaths come on the heels of the most violent year in recorded history with the deaths of 51 trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people in the United States alone. Note that the tablutation includes a significant number of reports of folx murdered in 2021. This might be confusing.

Rest in power, Naomie. You stood out from all crowds and left a permament imprint on the lives of your loved ones. I am sorry we did not create a better world for you. I hope you find peace (and fun) in the next world.

May your memory by a revolution.

This is our list of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming neighbors who have been victims of the campaign of terror in 2022. Please do not copy or share this list without attribution. The list for 2021 is available. As of today, we have documented a total of 55 deaths in 2021. Those reported in 2022 will be listed here.

1. Amäriey Lèį (Myara) – Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. January 1, 2022. Age 20. 
2. Duval Princess – Jacksonville, Florida. January 2, 2022. Age 24.
3. Za’Niyah Williams – Houston, Texas. December 20, 2021, reported on Jan 5, 2022. Age 21.
4. Nikki Turrietta – Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 31, 2021, reported on January 27, 2022. Age 31.
5. Keeva Scatter – Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 15, 2021, confirmed on February 13, 2022. Age 34.
6. Rubi Dominguez – Brownsville, Texas, July 15, 2021, confirmed on February 13, 2022. Age 29.
7. Naomie Skinner – Detroit, Michigan, February 12, 2022. Age 25.