These are the 26 transgender and gender nonconforming people who have lost their lives to violence this year
The Human Rights Campaign tracks the killing of transgender and gender nonconforming people each year. In the first 20 weeks of 2021, there have already been 26 homicides in the U.S. and Puerto Rico — that’s a rate of more than one person killed each week among a group of people who make up about 0.6% of the population.
Since we began compiling this memorial to those we have lost, several additional people were killed — we just kept adding names. The most recent death, Oliver Taylor, was a 17-year-old trans boy who was killed in a police-involved shooting in Oregon. This list reflects only those who had perished as of press time.
The following information was taken from the Human Rights Campaign’s ongoing online tracker, with some additional information added from local and national news reports.
These are the trans and gender nonconforming people who have died so far this year:
Tyianna Alexander, a 28-year-old Black trans woman, was shot to death in Chicago on Jan. 6. “I am really tired of seeing us get killed,” said Beverly Ross, a trans advocate who knew Tyianna personally. Beverly added that Tyianna “loved to dance, had a great sense of humor, enjoyed life when she could, and just wanted to be able to ‘vibe and thrive.’”
Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín, a Latinx transgender man, was killed on Jan. 9 in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Samuel was looking forward to starting a new year. On Jan. 1, he posted to Facebook, “a new year to come, grateful for all the experiences who (taught) me how strong we really are, to life, to good and bad, and for all justice that is forth to come.” He also spoke out against violence in Puerto Rico, expressing his hope for a Puerto Rico without killings. He was the seventh transgender person killed there within the past year.
Bianca “Muffin” Bankz, a Black transgender woman, was shot to death in Atlanta, Georgia, on Jan. 17. “Muffin was just blossoming into herself,” said Trans Housing Coalition founder and co-director Jesse Pratt López.
Dominique Jackson, a 30-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot in Jackson, Mississippi, on Jan. 25, causing her car to hit a utility pole. She died shortly thereafter in her vehicle. Dominique was an activist and co-founder of Break-Out, an LGBTQ+ youth organization. She was an important and valued member of her community, where she will be greatly missed.
Fifty Bandz, a 21-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot to death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Jan. 28 by her intimate partner. Friends of Fifty Bandz and advocates said her name as they released balloons to remember her life.
Alexus Braxton, also known as Kimmy Icon Braxton, a 45-year-old Black trans woman and hairstylist, was killed in her Miami apartment on Feb. 4 in what police described as a “very vicious and violent attack.” One of her most recent social media posts read, “They can’t stop my shine.”
Chyna Carrillo, a 24-year-old transgender woman, was beaten to death on Feb. 18 in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. She had recently moved to Pennsylvania from Arkansas, telling a friend it was supposed to be a fresh start.
Siblings Jeffrey “JJ” Bright, a 16-year-old trans boy, and Jasmine Cannady, a 22-year-old nonbinary person, both from Ambridge, Pennsylvania, were killed on Feb. 22 by their mother. Jeffrey was a student at Ambridge High School, while Jasmine worked at FedEx. Both siblings were active in PRISM, a nonprofit organization for the LGBTQ+ youth. “JJ is a part of our PRISM family,” PRISM shared on their Facebook. “JJ was a beautiful person with the biggest and brightest smile.” PRISM describes Jasmine as “a sweet, shy and artistic soul.”
Jenna Franks, a 34-year-old white transgender woman experiencing homelessness, was killed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in February. Jenna was a part of the Onslow County LGBTQ+ Community Center family. She was remembered on Facebook by friends and family as “sweet” and “a rock star.”
Diamond Kyree Sanders, a 23-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot to death in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 3. Her family describes many loving memories. “She valued her family and enjoyed spending time with them. Diamond was really into fashion. According to her obituary, she always coordinated her attire from head to toe, including matching hair and nails. She was known to say, “I have to be cute, honey!”
Rayanna Pardo, a 26-year-old Latina trans woman, was killed on March 17 in Los Angeles. “Rayanna was such a beautiful young person who just wanted to live her life and be herself,” said Trans Latin@ Coalition President Bamby Salcedo.
Jaida Peterson, a 29-year-old Black trans woman, was killed on April 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is remembered as someone who always had a smile on her face and who was always cracking jokes. She was also described as someone who would give anyone the coat off her back. Nearly 50 people attended her vigil.
Dominique Lucious, a 26-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed on April 8 in Springfield, Missouri. One friend shared, “Many don’t get to live in their authentic truth. You were fierce, glam, and hunny gorgeous! I love you now, tomorrow and forever.”
Remy Fennell, a Black transgender woman in her 20s, was shot to death on April 15 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Remy’s aunt said, “She was a vibrant young transgender woman who was just trying to make it & was doing it. She started her own business, graduated from cosmetology school. … She has left her mark on the hair industry.”
Tiara Banks, a 24-year-old Black transgender woman, was killed in Chicago, Illinois, on April 21. Someone shot at her while she was sitting alone in her Ford Fusion.
Natalia Smut, a 24-year-old Black and Puerto Rican transgender woman, was stabbed to death on April 23 in Milpitas, California. Natalia was a celebrated drag artist in the San Jose LGBTQ+ community. “Natalia was beautiful. She had one of the biggest hearts you could ask for. And she would just light up a room as soon as she walked in,” said her older sister.
Iris Santos, a 22-year-old Latinx transgender woman, was killed in Houston, Texas, on April 23. “She was a beautiful soul,” her mother said. “She was a wonderful person. She (was) always trying to help people, and even when she doesn’t have nothing, she always gives.”
Tiffany Thomas, a 38-year-old Black transgender woman, was killed on April 24 in Dallas, Texas, at a car wash. Tiffany is remembered as someone who had a “big heart,” was “funny” and “stayed laughing.”
Keri Washington, a 49-year-old Black transgender woman who was also known as Bobo, was killed on May 1 in Clearwater, Florida. Her intimate partner has been charged with her murder.
Jahaira DeAlto, a 42-year-old transgender woman, was stabbed to death on May 2 in Boston, Massachusetts. Jahaira was a well-known and beloved advocate for transgender people and for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Jahaira was a member of the ballroom community. She was a founder of Berkshire Transgender Day of Remembrance and Berkshire Pride Festival. She was remembered “as a colleague, activist and survivor who touched the lives of everyone around her with her passion, drive, humanity, humor, and fierce vision” in a Facebook post from the Elizabeth Freeman Center.
Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, a 41-year-old nonbinary person who was Shawnee by birth and Potawatomi by relations, was shot in York, Pennsylvania, while trying to stop a robbery on May 3 and died early on May 4. Friends and family are remembering them on Facebook, with one sharing “you are missed” and another remembering Whispering Wind as “a beautiful and kind soul.”
Sophie Vásquez, a 36-year-old Latinx transgender woman, was shot and killed in Georgia on May 4. She is remembered as “the kindest person on the planet” and as someone who was “truly beautiful inside and out.”
Danika “Danny” Henson, who also went by Pryynce Daniel and Niia Da Don on Facebook, a 31-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed in Baltimore on May 4. One family member shared that Henson “always had a BIG heart … there was love behind everything!” One friend remembered Henson as “the embodiment of love,” while another shared that Henson was “so good and sweet to everyone.”
Serenity Hollis, a 24-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed in Albany, Georgia, on May 8. Her mother said that “the person that’s responsible has no idea what they took from us. … I absolutely want to see that justice is served.” Prosecutors believe her death was a hate crime.
Oliver “Ollie” Taylor, a 17-year-old white trans boy, died on May 19 after being kidnapped and shot during a police-involved shooting on May 12 in Gervais, Oregon. He was involved in the Gervais Future Farmers of America organization at Gervais High School. The high school held a vigil to remember Oliver on May 20. Oliver is remembered as “an amazing child with a quirky sense of humor, who impacted so many people.”
Raven Drake and Emily Green contributed to this report
Sources: Human Rights Campaign at hrc.org, Anti-Violence Project at avp.org, GayCityNews.com, People, WKBN, KPIX, ABC13, Advocate, Tampa Bay Times, The Enquirer, The Mercury News and Planetrans, and KPTV.
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