Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

The Crime

Kassim Omar, 29, was a trans woman and former refugee born in Somalia. She died in adopted home of Columbus, Ohio on September 6, 2024, two years after being shot and paralyzed by two teenagers.

Earlier this year, Kassim told the Columbus Dispatch that on that fateful night, she was sitting on the porch with other people. The teens approached her from behind and shot her. Kassim claimed that they were motivated by hatred of her identity. At the time the shooters were 16 and 12 years old. The 16 year old was sentenced to seven years. The younger shooter was deemed unfit for trial.

Kassim died of injuries from the shooting. Police have filed murder charges against the now 18 and 14 year old shooters.

Honoring Kassim

Born in Somalia, Kassim fled violence with her family, seeking haven in Kenya. Kassim was able to emigrate to the United States in 2015.

After she was shot, Kassim spent most of her time in bed at an East Side nursing home, able to speak but do little else. She had few visitors, but maintained video contact with her family living in a refugee camp in Kenya. Kassim has started their refugee paperwork in 2017, but they were unable to get permission to visit their loved one before her death. Photos of her mother and brothers adorned her hospital room.

Prior to the shooting, she loved to dance and sing, get dressed up and go out and just drive around in her car, she told the Dispatch in June. She has studied at the University of Nairobi. According to her social media, Kassim liked listening to Roddy Ricch, Anuel AA, and Myke Towers.

In the June interview, Kassim spoke eloquently about her situation. She despaired that she was never interviewed by law enforcement, denying her a chance to tell her story. Kassim defied odds by being able to speak even with a trach tube. She fervently believed that if her family were to relocate to Columbus from Kenya, they would provide care for her to allow her the best possible life.

Note that I have asked the Columbus Dispatch to make the video more accessible so Kassim gets the final word in her story. You can find it here.

Update – they posted the video

The Context

Kassim is the 33rd 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. As of this post, I have now identified 28 individuals who were killed this year and 33 total individuals whose deaths became known to us this year.

I know this is confusing. Death cannot be neatly contained in data and reporting, but it is essential that we try to describe this epidemic of violence with every possible tool.

She is the 24th trans woman, the 13th Black trans woman, and the 19th trans woman of color on our list. In total 24 out of the 27 individuals were BIPOC. As of this post, a trans person’s violent murder has been reported in the US every 8 days this year.

Ohio is no stranger to anti-trans violence. The following neighbors have – 2024 Ryan Zimmerman (21) 2023 Charm Wilson (32) Kejuan Richardson (21) Amiri Jean Richardson  (21); 2021 Diamond Nicole ‘Kyree’ Sanders (23) Tierramarie Lewis (30) 2020 Riah Milton (25) Lea Rayshone Daye (28) Brian Egypt Powers (43) 2019 Jordan Cofer (22) Claire Legato (21) 2018 Keisha Wells (58) 2017 JoJo Striker (23) Phylicia Mitchell (46) 2016 Rae’Lynn Thomas (28) Brandi Bledsoe (32) Skye Mockabee (26) 2015 Bri Golec, (22)

In 2013, another trans woman confined to a wheelchair to immobility was found dead in her apartment. Her name was Betty Janet Skinner. There has been no arrest.

The shooters are in custody, but there can be no justice for Kassim unless we learn why she didn’t get to share her story with law enforcement. Her body was paralyzed, but not her mind and not her capacity to speak. Silencing disabled people is another example of how our liberation is intersectional. How is there justice when a 12 year old (then) shoots anyone, much less based on a bias?

Rest in power, Kassim. You worked hard for the life you dreamed about. Your determination to speak your own story is a humbling reminder of the importance of listening. I hope we can share your video soon. I am so sorry we did not create a world where you were not safe from children with guns sitting on a porch. I am sorry the US did not bring your family here after you suffered such violence. You deserved the comfort of their presence and care. You deserved to live.

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 year.

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.
26. Vanity Williams – August 3, 2024. Houston, Texas. Age 34.
27. Redd ‘Barbie’ Joseph – September 8, 2024. Chicago, Illinois. Age 25.
28. Kassim Omar – September 6, 2024. Columbus, Ohio. Age 29.

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.