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Remembering the 48 transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people killed so far in 2021

2021 is the deadliest year on record for transgender people in the United States. On Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20, we honor the transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people whose lives have been cut short far too soon. 

So far in 2021, at least 48 trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people have been killed—37 have been killed with a gun.

On Trans Day of Remembrance and and every day, we honor the lives of those killed

Tyianna Alexander
  • January 6, 2021
    Chicago, IL

    Tyianna Alexander was 28 years old when she was shot and killed in Chicago on January 6. Her friends described her as the “life of every party”; “Such a sweet person with a good heart.”
Samuel Valentin Blog
  • January 9, 2021
    Tujillo Alto, PR

    Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín, a trans man, was fatally shot in Tujillo Alto, Puerto Rico on January 9. He was excited to start a new year, posting on social media that he was “grateful for all the experiences who [taught] me how strong we really are.”
  • January 17, 2021
    Atlanta, GA

    Bianca “Muffin” Bankz, a young Black trans woman, was shot to death on January 17 in Atlanta, Georgia. Bianca had been nicknamed Muffin by her close friends because of her love for blueberry muffins. One of her dreams was to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Dominique Jackson
  • January 25, 2021
    Jackson, MS

    Dominique Jackson, a Black trans woman, was shot and killed in Jackson, Missouri on January 25. She was the founder of The Ladi Redd Inc.
  • January 28, 2021
    Baton Rouge, LA

    Fifty Bandz, a Black trans woman, was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by a man with whom she had been in a relationship for more than a year, according to local media reports. She was just 21 years old.
Alexus “Kimmy Icon” Braxton, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Miami
  • February 4, 2021
    Miami, FL

    Alexus “Kimmy Icon” Braxton, a 45-year-old Black trans woman, was shot and killed in Miami, Florida in February. She was a hairstylist, according to her Facebook, where she posted frequently. She had recently posted saying “they can’t stop my shine.”
Chyna Carrillo
  • February 18, 2021
    Wilmington, PA

    Chyna Carrillo, a 24-year-old trans Latina, was killed in Pennsylvania. She was a certified nursing assistant. A friend and coworker said, “whenever I was around Chyna and I knew I was working with her, it just felt like my world would light up.”
Jeffrey “JJ” Bright, a 16-year-old transgender boy, and Jasmine Cannady, a 22-year-old non-binary person -- siblings who were killed in Ambridge, Pennsylvania on February 22.
  • February 22, 2021
    Ambridge, PA

    Jeffery “JJ” Bright, a 16-year-old trans boy, and his nonbinary sibling, 22-year-old Jasmine Cannady, were shot and killed on February 22. Their mother was charged with criminal homicide.
Jenna Franks, White Transgender Woman Killed in North Carolina
  • February 24, 2021
    Jacksonville, NC

    Jenna Franks, a trans woman, was 34 years old when she was killed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in February. Friends and family described her as “sweet” and “a rock star.”
Diamond Kyree Sanders, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Cincinnati
  • March 3, 2021
    Cincinnati, OH

    Diamond Kyree Sanders, a Black trans woman, was just 23 when she was shot and killed in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 3. Her family described her as “beloved,” someone who valued her family and loved spending time with them.
Rayanna Pardo, Latina Transgender Woman Killed in Los Angeles
  • March 17, 2021
    Los Angeles, CA

    Rayanna Pardo, a trans Latina, was 26 when she was killed in Los Angeles—her family said she was hit by a car while fleeing a group of people harassing her. Her brother said “Everybody should just love everybody. At the end of the day that’s all we have.”
Aidelen Evans, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Texas
  • March 18, 2021
    Port Arthur, TX

    Aidelen Evans, a Black trans woman, was just 24 when she was killed in Port Arthur, Texas in March. Her grandmother said that she “will always be in my heart.”
Jaida Peterson, Black Transgender Woman Killed in North Carolina
  • April 4, 2021
    Charlotte, NC

    Jaida Peterson, a Black trans woman, was killed in Charlotte, North Carolina at the beginning of April. She was 29 years old. Her sister wrote, “you are going to be truly missed and once again we love you always.”
Dominique Lucious, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Missouri
  • April 8, 2021
    Springfield, MO

    Dominique Lucious, a Black trans woman, was shot and killed in Springfield, Missouri on April 8. She was 26 years old, and a fan of the TV show “Empire.” A friend wrote “You were fierce, glam, and hunny gorgeous! I love you now, tomorrow and forever.”
Remy Fennell, Black Transgender Woman Killed in North Carolina
  • April 15, 2021
    Charlotte, NC

    Remy Fennell, a Black trans woman, was fatally shot in North Carolina in April. She was in her 20s & owned her own hairstyling business, Bosskreations. Her aunt said she was “a vibrant young transgender woman who was just trying to make it & was doing it.”
Tiara Banks, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Chicago
  • April 21, 2021
    Chicago, IL

    Tiara Banks, a Black trans woman, was just 24 years old when she was shot and killed in Chicago while she was sitting alone in her car.
Iris Santos, Latina Trans Woman Killed in Houston
  • April 23, 2021
    Houston, TX

    Iris Santos, a trans Latina, was just 22 when she was shot and killed in Houston. She loved theater and performing; her mother said “she wanted to go to Hollywood. She kept dreaming all the time, and [believed] that no one can take away your dreams.”
Tiffany Thomas, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Dallas
  • April 24, 2021
    Dallas, TX

    Tiffany Thomas, a Black trans woman, was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas on April 24. She was 38 years old; friends and family described her as someone who had a “big heart.”
Natalia Smut, a Black and Puerto Rican Transgender woman, Killed in Milpitas, California
  • April 30, 2021
    Milpitas, CA

    Natalia Smüt, a 24-year old trans Black Latina and drag performer, was killed in April in Northern California by a man who was in a relationship with her, according to reports. “She would step into a room like a firework,” a childhood friend said.
Keri Washington, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Clearwater, Florida
  • May 1, 2021
    Clearwater, FL

    Keri Washington, a Black trans woman, was 49 years old when she was killed in Clearwater, Florida on May 1. A friend paid tribute to her on Facebook, writing “Rest easy Keri Washington aka Bobo we love U.”
Jahaira DeAlto, Transgender Woman of Color Killed in Boston
  • May 2, 2021
    Boston, MA

    Jahaira M. DeAlto, a 42-year-old trans woman, was killed in Boston, Massachusetts on May 2. She was a well-known and beloved transgender advocate, and a member of the ballroom community in the House of Balenciaga.
Thomas Hardin, Black Transgender Woman Killed in South Carolina
  • May 2, 2021
    York, SC

    Thomas Hardin was a 35-year-old Black trans woman who was killed on May 2 in York, South Carolina. Friends shared that Thomas identified as a woman and used both he and she pronouns. They remembered Thomas as someone who “always kept you laughing.”
Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, Indigenous Non-Binary Person Killed in Pennsylvania
  • May 3, 2021
    York, PA

    Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, a 41-year-old non-binary Indigenous person, was shot and killed in York, Pennsylvania on May 3. Friends described them as “a beautiful and kind soul.”
Sophie Vásquez, Latina Transgender Woman Killed in Georgia
  • May 4, 2021
    Brookhaven, GA

    Sophie Vásquez, a trans Latina, was shot and killed in Brookhaven, Georgia, on May 4. A friend described Sophie as “the kindest person on the planet.” She was a part of Community Estrella, a group working to support trans people in the Atlanta area.
Danika Danny Henson
  • May 4, 2021
    Baltimore, MD

    Danika “Danny” Henson, a 31-year-old Black trans woman, was fatally shot in Baltimore in May. According to family, Danika also may have identified as genderfluid & had just begun transitioning. A friend remembered Danika as “the embodiment of love.”
Serenity Hollis, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Albany, Georgia
  • May 8, 2021
    Albany, GA

    Serenity Hollis, a Black trans woman, was just 24 when she was shot and killed in Georgia. She was originally from Orlando, Florida, and had moved to Albany, Georgia, in 2019. Her mother said “the person that’s responsible has no idea what they took from us.”
Oliver “Ollie” Taylor, White Transgender Teen Killed in Oregon
  • May 12, 2021
    Gervais, OR

    Oliver “Ollie” Taylor, a trans teen, was just 17 years old when he was shot and killed after being kidnapped in Gervais, Oregon. His family described him as “​​such an amazing child with a quirky sense of humor, who impacted so many people.”
Haven Bailey, a white trans man, smiles while holding a cat
  • May 24, 2021
    Villa Park, IL

    A police officer in Villa Park, Illinois shot and killed Haven A. Bailey, a 25-year-old trans man, on May 24. Friends remembered Haven as someone who “found peace in spending time fishing” and an “avid Pokemon trainer.”
Poe Black, Transgender Man Killed in California
  • June 8, 2021
    Sonoran Desert, CA

    Poe Black, a trans Indigenous man, was just 21 years old when he was killed in California in May. According to friends, he had a history of activism, and his cousin described him as ​“a young, beautiful soul.”
Tierramarie Lewis, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Cleveland
  • June 12, 2021
    Cleveland, OH

    Tierramarie Lewis, a Black trans woman, was 26 when she was fatally shot in Ohio. She had moved to Cleveland the year prior for a fresh start. A friend said: “one day she would have purple hair, one day pink… & always an outfit to go with those colors.”
EJ Boykin aka Novaa Watson, Black Transgender Man Killed in Lynchburg, Virginia
  • July 14, 2021
    Lynchburg, VA

    EJ Boykin AKA Novaa Watson, a 23-year-old Black trans man, was shot and killed in Lynchburg, Virginia on June 14. He had just celebrated his birthday a few days prior. A friend said, “He was one of those people that was just good vibes and energy.”
Taya Ashton, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Maryland
  • July 17, 2021
    Suitland, MD

    Taya Ashton, a 20-year-old Black trans woman, was shot and killed at her apartment in Maryland in July. She hoped to become an entrepreneur and had started an Instagram account to market her new clothing boutique the week before she died.
Shai Vanderpump, Black Transgender Woman Killed in New Jersey
  • July 30, 2021
    Trenton, NJ

    Shai Vanderpump, a Black trans woman, was just 23 years old when she was shot and killed in ​​Trenton, New Jersey in July. She was ​​reportedly a vocal LGBTQ+ advocate in New Jersey, and friends described her as having a “heart of gold.” ​​
Miss CoCo, Transgender Woman of Color Killed in Dallas
  • August 7, 2021
    Dallas, TX

    CoCo Chanel Wortham, a Black trans woman, was fatally shot in Dallas, Texas in August. She was 44 years old when she was killed; a friend described her as “a giving and kind person who never said no to anyone.”
Pooh Johnson, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Louisiana
  • August 31, 2021
    Shreveport, LA

    Pooh Johnson, a Black trans woman, was 25 years old when she was fatally shot in Shreveport, Louisiana on August 23. She was an accomplished makeup artist under the name Titanizer, and referred to her clients as having been “titanized.”
Zoella “Zoey” Rose Martinez, a 20-year-old Latina transgender woman who was fatally shot in Maple Valley, Washington on August 31, 2021
  • August 31, 2021

    Zoella “Zoey” Rose Martinez, a trans Latina, was 20 years old when she was fatally shot in Maple Valley, WA on August 31. Her family described her as having “a beautiful spirit, she always had a smile and had only kind words to say about others.”
Disaya Monaee, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Chicago, Illinois
  • September 6, 2021
    Chicago, IL

    Disaya Monaee, a Black trans woman, was shot and killed in an Illinois motel on September 6. Her mother said, “She loved to dress, she loved to party, she loved to cook, she loved to do her hair, she loved to take care of people. She’s been like that ever since she was little.”
Briana Hamilton, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Chicago, Illinois
  • September 17, 2021
    Chicago, IL

    Briana Hamilton, a Black trans woman, was 25 years old when she was shot and killed in Chicago in September. Her mother described her as “an amazing person who touched so many people’s hearts with her presence and her memory will forever live on.”
Kiér Laprí Kartier, Black Transgender Woman Killed in Arlington, Texas
  • September 30, 2021
    Arlington, TX

    Kiér Laprí Kartier, a Black trans woman, was just 21 years old when she was fatally shot in Arlington, Texas on September 30. She was remembered by loved ones as a “ball of joy,” and her best friend said that “everybody just loved who she was.”
Royal Poetical Starz smiles and waves while wearing a crown and holding a cake. Royal, a 26-year-old Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in Miami Gardens, Florida
  • October 2, 2021
    Miami Gardens, FL

    Royal Poetical Starz, a Black trans woman, was shot and killed in Florida on October 2. She was 26 years old, and was known as the life of the party. “Her infectious smile and bigger than life personality brightened every room that she walked into.”
el Groves, a 25-year-old Black transgender man who was fatally shot in Jackson, Mississippi on October 11, 2021
  • October 11, 2021
    Jackson, MS

    Mel Groves, a 25-year-old Black trans man, was fatally shot in Jackson, Mississippi on October 11. He was studying plant & soil science at Alcorn State University, and a friend described him as “the definition of a tree hugger.”
Jessi Hart, a white 42-year-old transgender woman killed in Banks, Oregon
  • October 17, 2021
    Banks, OR

    Jessi Hart, a trans woman, was 42 years old when she was killed in Oregon. She and her son were living in a motel after bouncing between women’s shelters and a friend’s apartment. Her girlfriend said, “She was intelligent and thoughtful and caring, and I loved her quirks.”
Jo Acker, a white 26-year-old transgender woman killed in Boise, Idaho, on Oct. 26, 2021
  • October 26, 2021
    Boise, ID

    Jo Acker, a trans woman, was 26 years old when she was killed in a shooting at Boise Towne Square mall, where she was working security. According to her family, she ran toward the gunman to stop him. They said she was “the type of person that always wanted to help people.”
Rikkey Otumuro, a 39-year-old Latina transgender woman
  • October 31, 2021
    Centralia, WA

    Rikkey Outumuro, a trans Latina also known under her drag name, Tru Starlet, was fatally shot in October. She was a beloved member of the Washington LGBTQ+ community, and a friend described her as “an incredible advocate for the queer and trans community.”
Jenny De Leon, a 25-year-old Latina transgender woman
  • November 2, 2021
    Tampa, FL

    Jenny De Leon, a 25-year-old trans Latina, was found dead in Tampa, Florida on November 2. She attended PFLAG Tampa meetings when she began transitioning. A friend said, “Jenny was an enigmatic, bright soul with enough energy to fill any room.”
Marquiisha Lawrence, a 28-year-old Black transgender woman
  • November 4, 2021
    Greenville, SC

    Marquiisha Lawrence, a 28-year-old Black trans woman, was shot and killed in her home in Greenville, SC on November 4. Her trans mom said, “She will forever be remembered by her infectious smile and her heart of gold.”
Angel Naira, a 36-year-old Black trans woman
  • November 11
    Aliquippa, PA

    Angel Naira, a 36-year-old Black trans woman, was shot and killed in her home in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania on November 11. She is remembered by friends as “fearless and fabulous” and that she “always had a smile on [her] face.”

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