Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

She was 32-years-old, a Bronx resident, and a Black trans woman who became the latest victim of the epidemic of violence the trans community experiences.

She was stabbed multiple times in the chest about 1:35 a.m. Sunday during a confrontation inside the third-floor hallway of an apartment building on Jerome Ave. near W. 192nd St. in University Heights.She died 45 minutes later at St. Barnabas Hospital.

Her name was Tiffany Harris according Princess Janae Place, an organization that supports homeless LGBTQ adults in the tri-state area and confirmed by trans advocate Lucky Michaels.

New York City media has focused on her criminal background and the proximity of her death to an area known to be frequented by sex workers. There’s no indication either of those facts has anything to do with someone stabbing her in the chest in a hallway.

And even if they do, that doesn’t make her violent death less worthy of our grief, our compassion. She’s a human being slaughtered and left to die. That’s horrifying.

Police also changed her gender when describing her identity according to Gay City News, first describing her as female, then misgendering her, now again confirming she’s female. Investigators believe the murderer was someone with whom she had an intimate relationship. Intimate partner violence is too often a factor in this violent trend.

Police are seeking a man for questioning in the case. He is described as a Black male who was last seen donning a white T-shirt and dark pants. Witnesses claim there was an altercation before he killed her.

This is a photo believed to be the man they are searching for.

There is no photo of Tiffany, yet.

Tiffany is the 25th trans/nonbinary person known to be the victim of fatal violence in 2020 in the US, to date. She is the fourth trans woman with ties to New York City. She is the second Black trans woman reported murdered this week as of Monday. She is also among the oldest at age 32. The youngest known victim was 17 and over half of those killed were 25 or younger.

Rest in power, Tiffany. Your community will require law enforcement to search for the person who ended your life and to celebrate your life. You did not deserve to die this way. You are not forgotten. You were worth more than the facts used to describe your death. #SayHerName

This is my second In Memoriam post today and I’m working on a third and a fourth. I know that saying “Stop” won’t work. It isn’t stopping, it is much worse this year than in the past. I honestly believe the best resistance is to invest in trans led work and educate ourselves. Find a Black trans led organization in your community and send them the flowers you might have sent to these 25 individuals. By flowers, I mean money. We have to pour funds into the community to stop the violence.

My list of transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary neighbors who have lost their lives to violent deaths in the US during 2020.

1. Dustin Parker – McAlester, Oklahoma. January 1, 2020. Age 25.
2. Alexa Negron Luciano – Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. February 24, 2020. Age 29.
3. Yampi Mendez Arocho – Moca, Puerto Rico, March 5, 2020. Age 19.
4. Monica Diamond – Charlotte, North Carolina. March 18, 2020. Age 34.
5. Lexi – Harlem, New York City, New York. March 28, 2020. Age 33.
6. Johanna Metzger – Baltimore, Maryland. April 1, 2020. Age 25.
7. Serena Angelique Velazquezz – Puerto Rico. April 22, 2020. Age 32.
8. Layla Pelaez – Puerto Rico. April 22, 2020. Age 21.
9. Penélope Díaz Ramírez – Puerto Rico. April 13, 2020. Age 31
10. Nina Pop – Sikeston, Missouri. May 3, 2020. Age 28.
11. Helle Jae O’Regan – San Antonio, Texas. May 6, 2020. Age 20.
12. Tony McDade – Tallahassee, Florida. May 27, 2020. Age 38.
13. Dominique Rem’mie Fells – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. June 8, 2020. Age 27.
14. Riah Milton – Liberty Township, Ohio. June 9, 2020. Age 25.
15. Selena Reyes Hernandez – Chicago. May 31, 2020. Age 37.
16. Brayla Stone – Sherwood, Arkansas. June 25, 2020. Age 17.
17. Merci Mack – Dallas, June 30, 2020. Age 22.
18. Jayne Thompson – Colorado, May 2020. Age 33.
19. Bree Black – Pompana Beach, Florida, July 3, 2020. Age 27.
20. Draya McCarty – Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 2020. Age unknown.
21. Shaki Peters – Amite, Louisiana, July 1, 2020. Age 32.
22. Marilyn Cazares – Brawley, California, July 13, 2020. Age 22.
23. Tatiana Hall – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, approx June 29, 2020. Age 22.
24. Queasha Hardy – Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 27, 2020. Age 24.
25. Tiffany Harris – Bronx, New York, July 26, 2020. Age 32.