Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

PinkNews and TransGriot join the HRC in shining a light on the deaths of two trans women of color, both during 2021 and but only now coming to light with robust details.

On Friday July 16th in Arlington TX, Arlington police were called to the 2100 block of N. Collins Street around 3:30am to find the victim Rubi Dominguez dead from injuries believed to be from a hit and run. During their investigation they verified that Dominguez ’cause of death was indeed from a vehicle and even have a model and color but no suspects.

This happened in the 2100 block of N. Collins Street. and fled the scene southbound on Collins.

The car that hit Rubi was orange and may have been a Mitsubishi Mirage, Arlington police said. They have asked that anyone with information contact crash investigator S.Bridges at (817) 575-8602 or Sgt. J. Brown at (817) 575-8815. Info may also be passed on anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at (817) 469-8477 (TIPS). Anyone calling should refer to Arlington Police Department 2021-01970061, as Rubi is listed under her deadname. 

Rubi was born in Mexico City and most recently lived in Brownsville, Texas. She was 29 years old. Her family uses both her pronouns and her deadname in their statements, but it is clear that they are persisting in their quest for justice.

It hurts deep in my heart to have to learn to live without you. My heart goes out to you. I had to see you leave when I least expected it, winner of a thousand battles a true warrior.

In nearby Baton Rouge, Louisiana 34-year-old Black trans woman Keeva Scatter was found dead in October 2021.

Keeva Scatter, a 34-year-old Black transgender woman, was found fatally shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Oct. 15, 2021. TransGriot reported Scatter’s death, but there is very little information about her personal life that is publicly available. She was found in a grassy area in the 4100 block of W. Brookstown Drive, near Prescott Rd. on Oct. 15.

Police say Scatter was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound around 10:50 p.m.

This investigation remains ongoing.

There are few details about the personal life of Keeva. Those with information are encouraged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at 344-7867.

In both cases, deadnaming and misgendering obscured their real identities and hindered notification of the public.

In the context of their deaths in 2021, Rubi and Keeva are the 54th and 55th trans, nonbinary or gender nonconforming persons reported killed in 2021. 48 of these neighbors have been BIPOC. Keeva is the 37th victim who identified as Black. 32 of these victims were under the age of 30. We say ‘that we know of’, as many deaths go unreported or unacknowledged. 2021 is now the most violent year on record for our trans neighbors in the United States, surpassing the previous total of 44 deaths in 2020.

In the context of the deaths reported in 2022, Rubi and Keeva are the fifth and sixth persons reported as a victim of fatal violence in 2022. They are the fifth and sixth trans woman. Four victims were Black trans women, one was Latina, and one was white.  Their deaths come on the heels of the most violent year in recorded history with the deaths of 55 trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people in the United States alone.

I realize this is complicated when it comes to tracking and contextualizing the deaths of our trans neighbors. It isn’t a bright side, but the delayed reporting could reflect both an increase in overall deaths and an increase in identifying and bringing visibility to deaths where the victims are misgendered.

Rest in power, Rubi and Keeva. I am sorry we did not create enough safety to protect you and that your stories were lost amidst careless bias by media and law enforcement institutions. We will say your names now and push for thorough investigations into your respective deaths. Thank you for the joy and love you brought into this world. We hope to learn more about you.

May your memories be 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.