Transgender Day of Remembrance
The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day were Transgender people and their allies from all over the world mourn the loss of Transgender people killed simply for being a Transgender person. This year we will mourn the deaths of 200 Transgender women and men from all around the world that have been reported as being killed for who they where.
On November 20, 2013 we will mourn the death of 29 Transgender people who have been killed from November 20, 2012 and November 20, 2013. We will also mourn the deaths of around 238 Transgender people who have been killed since Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1998. These numbers are much lower than the actual death toll in our community due to mis-gendering, families not being supportive, discrimination we face by law enforcement, etc…
Below is a list of 29 known murders that occurred this year that received media attention. (Some information obtained from a Huffington Post article by Courtney O’Donnell)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (15 Transgender People Murdered)
Islan Nettles: Died at a New York City hospital following removal of life support after being declared brain-dead following a brutal beating. Her murder was set free and cleared of a misdemeanor assault charge on November 19, 2013. Islan lived in the Harlem part of Manhattan, NY.
Melony Smith: Beaten to death in Baldwin Park, CA. A suspect has been arrested.
Domonique Newburn: Found dead in her home in Fontana, CA. Police have a suspect.
Wanda: Legendary Miami entertainer was shot to death in Tampa, FL. A suspect has been arrested.
Ashley Sinclair: Found shot to death in Orange County, FL.
Shaun Hartley: Found beaten to death in an abandoned house in Baton Rouge, LA. Hartley was a witness to a murder for the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney and may have been silenced.
Milan Boudreaux: Found shot in the head at her New Orleans, LA. home. A suspect has been arrested.
Kelly Young: Died at a hospital after being shot in her home in Baltimore, MD.
Eyricka Morgan: Died at a hospital after being stabbed at her home in New Brunswick, NJ. A roommate admitted to the killing and has been arrested and charged with murder.
Diamond Williams: Hacked to death with an axe in Philadelphia, PA. Her murderer has admitted to the killing and has been arrested.
Cemia Acoff (aka Cemia Dove, Cici): Found in a retaining pond tethered to a block in Cleveland, OH. A suspect is now on trial for the murder.
Mercedes Demarco (aka Fernando Gomez): Died in police custody after being tased in El Paso, TX. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed by this writing.
Unknown (Transwoman): Found dead in the Brickhouse Gully section of Huston, TX.
Konyale Madden: Found shot to death in her home in Savannah, TX.
Evon Young (aka Yung LT): Choked, shot and tossed in a dumpster in Milwaukee, WI. His body was never found. Five suspects were arrested. Three of his murderers were found guilty in June of 2013. Ashanti McAlister, 19 was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide. Billy Griffin and Ron Allen were convicted of second-degree reckless homicide.
TURKEY (4 Transgender People Murdered)
Gaye: Found murdered in her home in Istanbul, Turkey.
Unknown: Beaten to death in Istanbul, Turkey.
Gunce Hatun (aka Dairy Babe): Shot on the streets of Istanbul, Turkey. A suspect was detained.
Dora Oezer: Found stabbed to death in her home in the providence of Kusadasi in Turkey.
MEXICO (3 Transgender People Murdered)
Hilary Molina Mendiola: Pulled from a car and thrown from a bridge by two men in Mexico City, Mexico.
Diana Martinez: Shot to death inside a hotel in Monterrey, Mexico.
Unknown: Brutally murdered in Hidalgo, Mexico.
OTHER COUNTRIES (7 Transgender People Murdered)
Laura Aguilar: Stabbed to death in Rio Grande, Argentina, during an apparent domestic dispute with her ex-partner.
Cecilia Marahouse: Shot just outside Fortaleza, Brazil.
Mylene: Beaten to death with a hammer in Limoges, France. A suspect has been arrested.
Hari (female name unknown): Found dead under a pile of rocks in Mangadu, India. A suspect has been arrested.
D. Jones: Beaten, stabbed and hacked by a mob in Jamaica. No suspects have been arrested.
S. Athiswaran: Found tied up and stabbed to death at her home in Bagan Ajam, Malaysia.
J. Ratworabood: Shot to death after she was given a ride home in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The police arrested a suspect.