The trend is unmistakable and deeply alarming
Italy: Italian hotelier warns guest: 'We don’t accept gays and animals'
Mexico: This bus promoting homophobic messages was wrapped in a Pride rainbow flag
UK: Rabbis call for boycott of centre after it holds ‘forbidden and condemned’ LGBT event
China: Organizers cancel LGBT event in Chengdu
Hong Kong: Gov’t urged to speed up gender recognition legislation after death of transgender woman
US: The Hate Crime Epidemic We're Not Paying Enough Attention To
Two transgender women of color have been murdered in the past month alone. On Sunday, July 2, Ebony Morgan was fatally shot in Lynchburg, VA. Just one week before, on June 25, 17-year-old Ava Le'Ray Barrin was shot and killed in Atlanta, GA. The deaths of these women, especially so close together, are tragic, gut-wrenching, and unthinkable. The saddest part is, Morgan and Barrin aren't the first transgender women of color to be murdered in 2017. In fact, Morgan, the most recent victim, is the 15th. Here is the growing list of murder victims so far in 2017:
- Jan. 1: Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28
- Jan. 4: Mesha Caldwell, 41
- Feb. 8: JoJo Striker, 23
- Feb. 19: Jaquarrius Holland, 18
- Feb. 21: Tiara Richmond aka Keke Collier, 24
- Feb. 25: Chyna Doll Dupree, 31
- Feb. 27: Ciara McElveen, 21
- March 22: Alphonza Watson, 38
- April 9: Kenne McFadden, 27
- April 21: Chay Reed, 28
- April 21: Kenneth Bostick*, 59
- May 16: Sherrell Faulkner, 46
- June 13: Kendra Marie Adams, 28
- June 25: Ava Le'Ray Barrin, 17
- July 2: Ebony Morgan, 28
Morgan's killing isn't just some anomaly; transgender women of color may be more at risk for violence than any other members of the LGBTQ+ community. As The Advocate stated in 2016, this is because the increased threat to transgender women in the current political climate yields "a progressively hostile environment for trans folks that has emboldened our adversaries and resulted in an increase in hate-motivated violence."
Every year since 2010 has yielded more transgender murder victims than the last. To be clear, these are murders that are actually reported to the police and do not account for countless more violent acts and deaths that may go unreported across the nation every year. In 2015, 21 transgender murders were reported in America. In 2016, the number of reported victims climbed to 27.
US: Texas Bathroom Bill Has Emotions, and Stakes, Running High
A Tool for Change
US: Mormon Professor Says She Was Fired for Pro-LGBTQ Facebook Post
US: The White House has finally spoken out on Chechyna's persecution of gay men
US: Bisexual teacher came out to help suicidal students but then lost his job
A Kentucky-based teacher lost his job after coming out as bisexual in an attempt to help suicidal students.
Nicholas Breiner started teaching chorus three years ago at McNabb Middle School in Montgomery County, Kentucky.
In a press statement, he explained: ‘For years, it was my opinion that my sexual orientation was my business and nobody else’s.
‘When a child is ready to take their own life because they love differently than those around them, you must prioritize their safety over your own privacy.’
He explained he was previously afraid his community wouldn’t accept him for who he is.
After a decade in the closet, he came out with the hope of helping suicidal LGBTI students at his school.
‘I had stayed in the closet for years. But I have had two students attempt suicide this year. I have intervened on five others before they got that far.
‘The vast majority of these students were LGBT students,’ Breiner explained. Read more via Gay Star News