Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

The Crime

Recently, we learned of the shooting death of 26 year old Black trans woman LaKendra Andrews in Dallas in April 2023 from Nu Trans Movement. Previously, reporting on her death had misgendered her and used her deadname, leaving her off these lists for over six months.

Honoring LaKendra

LaKendra was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. Later, her family moved to Dallas where she attended James Madison High School and then Dallas College Eastfield Campus. According to her Facebook profile, LaKendra had started a nonprofit organization and was self-employed.

Also, LaKendra was interested in cooking, drawing, dance, baking, and music. She was a fan of Nicki Minaj. Her social media referenced her professional experience working at a call center and shift supervision. She had a robust rich life like any other young woman. Unquestionably, obscuring her true identity as a Black trans woman delayed opportunities to share her story.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call the Dallas Police Department at 214-671-3632 or email christopher.walton@dallascityhall.com. They can reference case No. 072504-2023. People can also call 214-373-8477 to submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers, which is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in the case.

As of now, LaKendra is the 36th trans or gender nonconforming person whose violent death has been reported in 2023. She is the 29th trans woman on this list, the 15th Black trans woman, and the 20th Black trans person on this list.  A trans person has been reported to be killed in the US every 8.22 days in 2023. Last year, we reported on the deaths of 40 people. We are careful to say “reported” as a qualifier. We know there are more folx whose deaths remain unacknowledged. Indeed we have included an unidentified person whose remains were discovered this year on our list. And some, like LaKendra, come to our attention long after their deaths.

Rest in power, LaKendra. I regret that we did not learn about your authentic identity in time to honor your life and grieve your passing. We also failed to hold investigators responsible for respectfully investigating your homicide. So much time has been lost due to you being misgendered and deadnamed. Now that your name is part of these conversations, we will seek justice for you.

You deserved many years to explore the world and embrace your dreams. I am so very sorry we didn’t come for you sooner, LaKendra.

May your memory be a revolution.

This is our list

This is our list of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming neighbors who have been victims of the campaign of terror in 2023. Please do not copy, modify, or share this list without attribution.

1. Jasmine ‘Star’ Mack – District of Columbia, January 7, 2023. Age 36.
2. KC Johnson – Wilmington, North Carolina, January 13, 2023. Age 27.
3. Tortuguita – Weelaunee Forest, Georgia, January 18, 2023. Age 26.
4. Unique Banks – Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 2023. Age 21.
5. Zachee Imanitwitaho – Louisville, Kentucky, February 3, 2023. Age 26.
6. Maria Jose Rivera Rivera – Houston, Texas, January 21, 2023. Age 22.
7. Cashay Henderson – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 27, 2023. Age 31.
8. Tasiyah ‘Siyah’ Woodland – Mechanicsville, Maryland, March 24, 2023. Age 18.
9. Ashley Burton – Atlanta, Georgia, April 11, 2023. Age 37.
10. Rasheeda Williams – Atlanta, Georgia, April 18, 2023. Age 35.
11. Banko Brown – San Francisco, California, April 27, 2023. Age 24.
12. Ashia Davis – Detroit, Michigan, June 2, 2023. Age 34
13. Chanell Perez Ortiz – Carolina, Puerto Rico, June 25, 2023. Age 29.
14. Jacob Williamson – Pageland, South Carolina, July 4, 2023, Age 18.
15. Camdyn Rider – Winter Haven, Florida, July 21, 2023. Age 21.
16. Kylie Monali – Riverside, California, September 7, 2022, Reported September 2023.
17. DéVonnie J’Rae Johnson – Los Angeles, California, August 7, 2023. Age 27.
18. Thomas ‘Tom-Tom’ Robinson – Calumet, Indiana, August 17, 2023. Age 28.
19. Charm Wilson – Cleveland, Ohio, September 8, 2023. Age 32.
20. Bre’Asia Bankz – Arizona, September 5, 2023. Age 27.
21. Alexa Sokova – Palm Bay, Florida, September 5, 2023. Age 30.
22. YOKO – New Orleans Louisiana, September 19, 2023. Age 30.
23. Codii Lawrence – Weirton, West Virginia, September 5, 2023. Age 25.
24. Unidentified Person – Dallas, Texas,. July 2023. Age unknown
25. Dolli Goins – Eugene, Oregon, August 10, 2023. Age 27.
26. Luis Ángel Díaz Castro – San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 12, 2023. Age 22.
27. Thaddeus ‘Tad’ Keegan Bradley – Mendocino, California, Sept 21st, 2021. Reported April 27, 2023.
28. Sherlyn Marjorie – Albuquerque, Nex Mexico, September 17, 2023. Age 35.
29. Chyna Long – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 8, 2023. Age 20.
30. Skylar Harrison – Washington, DC, October 2, 2023. Age 30.
31. A’Nee Johnson – Washington, DC, October 14, 2023. Age 30.
32. Dominic Palace Dupree – Chicago, Illinois, October 13, 2023. Age 25.
33. Lisa Love -Chicago, Illinois, October19, 2023. Age 35.
34. Lovely Page – Chicago, Illinois, August 16, 2023. Age 54.
35. London Price – Miami, Florida, October 23, 2023. Age 26.
36. LaKendra Andrews – Dallas, Texas, April 29, 2023. Age 26.