Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

A 24 year old Black trans woman is the latest fatality in the epidemic of anti-trans violence. Her name was Tai’Vion Lathan or Tai. She was found shot to death on Sunday, August 4, 2024 in Baltimore.

WJZ reports that around 10 a.m. on Sunday in an alley off the 800 block of North Monroe Street first responders found Tai’s body. Police had been alerted that an unresponsive person was in this alley just blocks from Tai’s home. According to official reports, Tai had been shot around 5 AM

According to community members, she had been shot five times and covered in a blanket and put in a ditch, a decision “that shows the inhumanity that the person who killed her has,” said Desire Bandz, a trans community advocate.

If you know anything about her death, you can call police at 410-396-2100. You can also anonymously leave tips with Metro Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-7LOCKUP

Honoring Tai

I have no found much information about Tai’s life. Several friends have posted the news articles about her, expressing their sadness or outrage. I am hopeful after reading this, they will reach out to me so we can tell you more about the life she lived.

One fact that does stand out is that she was shot five times at five AM and not discovered until 10 AM. Was anyone with her when she died? Five gunshot wounds sound like it was personal, not a random one off situation. But that’s purely speculation on my part.

The details of her life do matter. Where did she grow up? What were her hopes and dreams? Whom did she love? What fueled her passion? Did she have family? A pet? Friends? Hobbies? Help fill in the story of her life.

There will be a vigil for Lathan on Friday, Aug. 9, starting at 7 p.m. at 1927 W. Lafayette Ave. Maryland Safe Haven is also raising money to give Lathan proper burial and funeral services.

The Context

That we know of, Tai is the 30th trans person whose death has been reported in 2024. Reported means the death may have been earlier or that we do not have all of the details. You may notice in my list later in this post that I try to make some distinctions.

She is the 21st trans woman, the 10th Black trans woman, and the 16th trans woman of color on our list. In total 21 out of the 26 individuals were BIPOC. As of this report, a trans person has been violently murdered in the US every 7.2 days this year.

In July, at one point, there were 9 victims in 12 days with 5 homicides and 4non-fatal shootings.

Other recent deaths we’re reported on from Marylad. 2023: Tasiyah ‘Siyah’ Woodland (18) Meghan Riley Lewis (59) Skylar Harrison (30) 2022: Morgan Moore (17) 2021: Taya Ashton (20) Danny Henson (30) 2020: Johanna Metzger (20)

Rest in power, Tai. You deserved so many more years to live and experience life. You are not a statistic, you are a friend, neighbor, and loved one. I am so sorry we did not create more safe spaces for you.

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 2024. Please do not copy, modify, or share this list without attribution.

Things have grown so complicated that I have separated out the deaths dated to 2024 from those reported this year, but took place in another ye

1. Kitty Monroe – January 1, 2024. Phoenix, Arizona. Age 43.
2. Nex Benedict – February 8, 2024. Owasso, Oklahoma. Age 16.
3. Righteous Torrence ‘T K’ Chevy Hill – February 29, Atlanta. Georgia. Age 35.
4. Reyna Hernandez – Between Feb 28 and March 28, location TBD. Age 54.
5. Diamond Cherish Brigman – March 16, 2024, Houston, Texas. Age 36.
6. Alex Franco – March 19, 2024. Salt Lake City, Utah. Age 21.
7. Meraxes Medina – March 19, 2024, Los Angeles, California. Age 24.
8. Cecilia Gentili – February 6, 2024, New YorkCity, New York. Age 52.
9. Lagend Billions aka Tee Arnold – April 7, 2024, Miami, Ohio. Age 36.
10. África Parrilla García – February 2, 2024, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Age 25.
11. Nevaeh ‘River’ Goddard – April 5, 2024,. Stow, Massachusetts. Age 17,
12. Andrea Doria Dos Passos – April 22, 2024, Miami, Florida. Age 37.
13. Sasha Williams – January 26, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada. Age 36.
14. Kita Bee – May 3, 2024, Kansas City, Missouri. Age 46.
15. Starr Brown – April 19, Memphis, Tennessee. Age 28.
16. Jazlynn Johnson – May 6, 2024, Carson City, Nevada. Age 18.
17. Michelle Henry – May 15, 2024, San Francisco, California. Age 25.
18. Tayy Dior Thomas – May 7, 2024, Mobile, Alabama. Age 17
19. Pauly Likens – June 23, 2024, Sharon, Pennsylvania. Age 14
20. Shannon Boswell – July 2, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia. Age 30.
21. Liara Kaylee Tsai – June 22, 2024, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Age 35.
22. Kenji Spurgeon – July 1, 2024, Seattle, Washington. Age: 23
23. Monique Brooks – July 19, 2024. Orlando, Florida. Age 59.
24. Dylan Gurley – July 24, 2024. Denton, Texas. Age 20.
25. Tai Lathan – August 4, 2024. Baltimore, Maryland. Age 24.

Deaths reported in 2024 but took place in other years or need to be monitored for more information.

• Ryan Zimmerman – Sept 2015, Columbus OH Age 21 Murdered 2016, Identified 2020, reported 2024.
• Unknown Name – June 17, Denver, Colorado. Age unknown.
• Paris Rich Jessup – 13 June 2022, San Diego, California. Age 25.
• Kit Nelson-Mora, – 2021/2022 Washington State, 2022. Age 18.
• Niomi Jenkins – May 2024 San Francisco
• Morgan Moore – May 2022, Maryland. Age 17.