Anti-Trans Violence in Texas Has Claimed the Lives of at Least 20 People Since 2020. The Latest Is Black Trans Woman Vanity Williams Who Was Shot to Death in Houston

‘I don’t fear death! I fear injustice!’ A 34-year-old Black transgender woman named Vanity Williams was killed in Houston on August 3, 2024. Her death came to our attention through HRC. The Crime Vanity was found shot to death in a Houston home. From the Houston Police Department HPD patrol officers responded to a shooting […]

Gun Violence Claims Life of Black Trans Woman in Houston

Diamond Serenity Brigman

The Crime This weekend, Diamond Cherish Brigman, a 36 year old Black trans woman, was killed in Houston. Diamond died around 1 AM on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The cause of death was multiple gun shot injuries. Witnesses reported to police that a white 2017 Chevrolet Malibu LT stopped near the victim, who was standing […]

Latina Trans Woman Maria Jose Rivera Rivera, 22, Killed in Houston

Maria Jose Rivera Rivera was a 22-year-old Latina trans woman from El Salvador. Her death was first reported in late January, but unconfirmed by law enforcement investigators until recently. Maria Jose was killed in what’s described as a murder-suicide by an intimate partner on January 21, 2023 in Houston. Based on early reporting, her death […]

Marisela Castro, 39, Fatally Shot in Houston

Marisela Castro

Marisela Castro, 39, was born in Juticalpa, Olancho in Honduras. She spent most of her life in North Carolina where she attended Riverside High School, moved to Houston several years ago to be close to her sister and her nieces and nephews, She was a supporter of St. Jude’s Hospital and a fan of Bad […]

UPDATE: Princess, Missing 25-year-old White Trans Woman, Discovered to be Killed While Crossing Intersection in Houston

Princess Missing in houston

UPDATE – Princess’ friends have confirmed for me that they were informed by Houston police that Princess was killed after being struck by a car while crossing a road Monday evening. More details are not available. The driver reportedly stopped to offer aid and call for help. Princess is 25-years-old. She’s about 5’4″ and has […]

Trans woman Geri Judd shot to death in September 2021, identity comes to light in March 2022

Geri Judd

Geri Judd, a transgender woman, was found shot to death on 28 September 2021 in her apartment in Bossier City, Louisiana. Her death has just come to light because her gender identity was not adequately noted or reported. According to HRC, the Bossier City Police Department found Judd’s body during a welfare check on September 28, […]

UPDATED: Trans Latina Paloma Velasquez Murdered in Houston

On Saturday, February 22, a young Latinx trans woman was found murdered in her home. Her boyfriend returned from work and discovered her body. Reports indicate she had been there alone for hours with no neighbors hearing gunshots.  There was no sign of forced entry. What happened to her? With baited breath, we waited for […]

Martina Caldera, 38, was Killed on December 6, 2021

Martina Caldera was 38-years-old. Martina Caldera, a Latina transgender woman, was found fatally shot in Houston, Texas on December 6, 2021. Caldera’s death is at least the 56th violent killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person in 2021. Her death is at least the 6th 2021 homicide to come to light in 2022. Investigators […]

Black Trans Woman Killed in December Hit-and-Run Now Identified as Za’Niyah Williams

Za'Niyah Williams

Za’Niyah Williams was a 21-year-old Black trans woman. She was born in Pasadena, California and most recently lived in Houston, Texas. On December 20, she was killed in a hit and run car incident in the Oak Creek Village section of Houston. Police were unable to identify her at first so she was listed as […]

22-year-old Asia Jynaé Foster shot to death in Houston on Trans Day of Remembrance

On November 20, Asia Jynai Foster was killed. Asia was 22 years old and a Black trans woman living in Houston, Texas. November 20 was also the Trans Day of Remembrance, an international observation of trans neighbors who have been killed. According to Outsmart A 22-year-old Black transgender woman was shot and killed in west […]