Black Trans Man Banko Brown, 24, Shot to Death by Walgreens Security Guard in San Francisco

headshot of a young Black man wearing a yellow sweatshirt and a yellow viser upside down

Banko Brown, a 24-year-old Black trans man, is the most recent reported victim of anti-trans violence after he was fatally shot by a security guard in a San Francisco Walgreens. Banko used the surnames Brown and Paso. At approximately 6:33 p.m., SFPD officers from Tenderloin Station responded to a report of a shooting at 825 […]

Black Trans Man Semaj Billingslea, 33, Shot to Death in Jacksonville

Described by many as ‘larger than life,’ Semaj Billingslea (also styled as Semaj Bill) is the most recent victim of anti-trans violence. Semaj was a 33-year-old Black trans man. He was shot to death in Jacksonville on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, the last full day of summer. Jacksonville, Florida police responded to reports of a […]

Regina ‘Mya’ Allen, 35, Shot to Death in Milwaukee

Regina Mya Allen

Regina ‘Mya’ Allen was 35 years old and living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. One of her final social media posts showed she was looking forward to her September birthday, just 22 days ahead. Tragically, Mya won’t have the chance to celebrate that milestone. The day after the post, she was shot to death as she walked […]

Black Trans Woman Hayden Davis, 28, Murdered in Detroit

Hayden Davis Detroit

Hayden Davis was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. On Monday, July 25, she lost her life there as reported by Dee Dee Watters of TransGriot. In another horrific attack affecting the LGBTQ+ community, a transgender woman was shot and killed in Detroit on Monday evening. Her body was found on the city’s east side, in the […]

Death of Black Trans Woman Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway Ruled Homicide in Albany

There is not much detail available, but the May 31, 2022 death of a Black trans woman in Albany, New York has been ruled a homicide. Her name was Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway also known as Sid or Cyd according to her Facebook profiles. She was 30. Note the media reporting uses the appropriate pronouns, […]

Q&A With Bill Peduto, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh

Bill Peduto Mayor

Competitive primaries evince the best out of elected officials. It keeps us honest, and allows us to stay in touch with the communities we serve. I’m proud to have run in multiple tough races, because I think it’s made me a better elected official. We are launching our election season series ‘Political Q&A’ with progressive […]

37-Year-Old Black Trans Woman Natasha Keianna Found Dead in Her Car in Detroit

Natasha Keianna, a Black trans woman, went missing from her Detroit home soon after Christmas Day in 2020. Her family reported her missing and provided a description of her vehicle to local police. Two weeks ago, residents along Coyle and Vassar reported an unknown vehicle parked near their homes. According to residents, police did not […]

40-Year-Old Black Trans Woman Found Dead in Athens, Georgia Parking Lot

Kimberely Cope

Will Raphael Warnock and Jon Osoff say her name and speak out loudly about the myriad of oppressions Black trans women in Georgia experience? 

Ja’leyah-Jamar, 28, of Kansas City is 19th Trans Person to be Murdered in 2019

Ja'leyah Jamar

Ja’leyah-Jamar was 28 years old when she was killed on Friday, September 13 in Kansas City. She is the 19th transgender person to be murdered in the United States during 2019, to date. Ja’leyah is also the 18th Black trans woman on that list. Misgendering and deadnaming have contributed to the delay in confirming Ja’leyah’s […]

22-Year-Old Black Trans Woman Tracy Single Was Murdered in Houston #SayHerName

Tracy Single Transgender Woman

August has been a cruel month. From Monica Roberts at Transgriot comes word that Tracy Single, a 22-year-old Black trans woman, is the 16th official transgender person*** to be murdered in the US during 2019.  While her body was discovered on July 30, it wasn’t until August 11 that local activists were able to confirm […]