Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

On December 1, 2024, the body of Ra’Lasia Wright was discovered in Minneapolis. She was just 24 years old. Nearly a month later, police have not identified suspects or released information about the case. To date, media coverage has been limited mostly to local media outlets. Even the national LGBTQ media has failed to acknowledge this recent incidence of terrible violence. Ra’Lasia (sometimes styled Ralasia) was a 24 year old Black trans woman of Puerto Rican descent.

Her life mattered.

16 days later, the body of Cam Thompson was found in Tuscaloose, Alabama. She was 18 years old at the time. The teenager who shot Cam has been identified and arrested. He is awaiting trial. Cam’s murder has received some national media coverage.

Cam’s life mattered.

It has been a brutal year for transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming youth. Young people 25 and under represent nearly 50% of the violent deaths in the US I documented during 2024 (33.) During this year, I also memorialized five other trans youth 25 and under whose deaths in previous years only came to light this year. Five out of seven people in that category; the ages of the other two are both still unknown.

Ra’Lasia Wright – December 1, 2024. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Age 24.

Cam Thompson – December 16, 2024. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Age 18.

Redd ‘Barbie’ Joseph – September 8, 2024. Chicago, Illinois. Age 25.

Tai Lathan – August 4, 2024. Baltimore, Maryland. Age 24.

Dylan Gurley – July 24, 2024. Denton, Texas. Age 20.

Kenji Spurgeon – July 1, 2024, Seattle, Washington. Age: 23

Jazlynn Johnson – May 6, 2024, Las Vegas, Age 18.

Michelle Henry – May 15, 2024, San Francisco, California. Age 25.

África Parrilla García – February 2, 2024, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Age 25.

Nevaeh ‘River’ Goddard – April 5, 2024,. Stow, Massachusetts. Age 17,

Tayy Dior Thomas – May 7, 2024, Mobile, Alabama. Age 17

Pauly Likens – June 23, 2024, Sharon, Pennsylvania. Age 14

Alex Franco – March 19, 2024. Salt Lake City, Utah. Age 21.

Meraxes Medina – March 19, 2024, Los Angeles, California. Age 24

Nex Benedict – February 8, 2024. Owasso, Oklahoma. Age 16.

This epidemic of anti-trans violence sweeps across the nation at a terrifying rate. It is not getting better. We are not doing better.

Since 2020, I have memorialized the deaths of 83 young people 25 and under. They represent about 38% of the documented deaths during that period of time. I ran some numbers for comparison although exact comparisons remain a challenge. In 2023, youth ages 25 and under represented 21% of homicides in US general population. That’s a significant difference, almost doubling the number. These aren’t exact comparisons, just broad strokes from where I sit now.

Of course, they shook me up, these stories and the data.

But clearly trans youth are victims of violent deaths far more than the typical population. And I’m not even factoring in death by suicide because I do not track that information. We talk a lot about the increasing anti-trans rhetoric, legislation, and sentiment. We acknowledge that trans folx are clearly being targeted, as a distraction and point to mobilize. This is particularly true for BIPOC trans women and youth. I’m looking at the evidence. So are you.

Next to consider, the pieces I can address:

• Advocate for accurate and fair media coverage around these stories and all trans related stories.
• Lift up and celebrate trans joy and resiliency.
• Promote tangible opportunities for you to invest and support trans led community efforts.
• Look for the next phase of our #ProtectTransKids efforts

But that’s peanuts. What are you doing? We cannot possibly be waiting for more dead bodies to convince us of the urgency.

Perhaps instead of arguing with physicians about health care for trans youth as a threat to their well-being, we can tackle the biggest threats – gun violence, for example. Mental health supports. The competency of DHS departments. Dehumanizing policies and laws. Lack of affordable, safe housing.

I’ve written about ending the #ProtectTransKids project. Last night, a friend and I drove around Pittsburgh’s Northside looking at holiday lights in the neighborhoods. Then, we pulled up to this display. That’s when I saw one of the signs. It is beauty and sorrow, the seasonal meaning that is probably lost on many. Ultimately, it is a reminder that signs are important, action is more important.

May their memories be a revolution.