The Trans Women's Anti-Violence Project

Two more murdered transwomen: by multiple stabbings in Puerto Rico and by stoning in Brazil: Puerto Rico experienced its 30th anti-LGBTQ homicide in the past ten years when the body of transwoman Malena Suarez was found dead in her home in Carolina with multiple stab wounds in her back. Ten of those murders have been in the last two years, according to a report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. On October 19 it was Madona’s turn to take a trip to the death zone.  Being a well-known and well-liked fixture of Aracaju nightlife was not sufficient to stay the hands of attackers, who pelted her with cobblestones in that capital city of the Brazilian state of Sergipe. Madona, 39, died in a hospital on October 23 from severe head injuries she had received. (TransAction, Daily Kos, Oct. 28, 2012)

Another trans woman murdered in Antalya, Turkey: The murder toll for trans women in Turkey has tragically risen again following the death of Serap Güneşer, 25, last week. Güneşer, a sex worker, was stabbed and had her throat cut in Antalya in the early hours of Wednesday 24 October. She was alive when police arrived but died before she reached hospital. Turkish trans rights activist Kemal Ordek told Gay Star News that some of Güneşer’s friends tried to help her by staunching the blood flow, but when the police reached the crime scene they forcibly dispersed them using pepper spray. They also said there was a delay getting her to the hospital. (Anna Leach, Gay Star News, Oct 29, 2012)

Jamaica center will use grant to fight HIV in the transgender community: Although HIV/AIDS rates have generally been on the decline, transgender women of color are still at alarmingly high risk of contracting the disease, although one Jamaica health clinic is hoping a new funding stream will allow it to reduce some of the exposure in the transgender population. The Queens Health Center, at 97-04 Sutphin Blvd., is part of a network of clinics that will receive $1.5 million over the next five years to provide care and evaluation services to the transgender community. (Rich Bockmann, Times Ledger, Oct. 30, 2012)

Trans woman denied entry into Canada: A Riverside, California, woman says Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers pulled her aside and ultimately denied her entry Oct 22 because she is transgender. Domaine Javier says the first officer at Vancouver International Airport gave her a “weirded look” after checking her passport. Border guards accused her of lying, drug smuggling and working illegally, woman alleges. (Natasha Barsotti, Xtra!, Nov. 1, 2012)

Trans woman assaulted in pub: A 46-year-old trans woman has been attacked just minutes after entering a pub in Leicester City Centre. Giovanna Del Nord was punched in the head by a stranger, without warning, as she waited to be served in the Market Tavern, in Hotel Street. Ms Del Nord believes she was targetted because she is trans. (Scott Roberts, Pink News, Nov. 1, 2012)

In Brazil, trans woman stoned to death: A 39 year old trans person was stoned to death in the city of Aracaju, Brazil. Madonna received mortal blows and was admitted to a hospital in Aracaju, the capital of the state of Sergipe, Brazil, in the early hours of Friday last week. She died four days later from severe head injuries. Maria Livia Vieira, one of Madona’s neighbor told the Brazilian portal infonet: ‘She was a very funny, happy person, who loved to dance and be playful, she didn’t hurt anyone.’ (Dan Littauer, Gay Star News, Oct. 26, 2012)

Off-duty D.C. police officer convicted of assault with a deadly weapon: A D.C. police officer who jumped onto the hood of a packed car and fired five gunshots at its occupants minutes after offering a transgender woman $500 for sex was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon Friday. Kenneth D. Furr, 48, also was convicted of solicitation. He was acquitted of the most serious charge he faced, assault with intent to kill, and six related offenses stemming from an Aug. 26, 2011, argument that turned violent. Furr faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the assault conviction and 90 days for solicitation when he is sentenced in January. He could have faced up to 30 years behind bars if he had been convicted of all the charges against him. (Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, Oct. 26, 2012)

Jury frees man accused of shooting trans woman: [We believe the victim is misidentified in the linked article as a cross-dressing man. Since the victim lives and presents as a woman that is why we are identifying her as such here.] A jury acquitted Brian Jeremy White of armed robbery and aggravated assault Friday, according to court officials. White was accused of stealing a purse from Hayes and shooting her in the left leg during the crime on Sept. 11, 2011. Defense attorney James Finkelstein and District Attorney Greg Edwards disagreed as to what brought the jury to the acquittal. (Pete Skiba, Albany Herald, Oct. 26, 2012)

D.C. cop convicted of assault with dangerous weapon in trans shooting case: An off-duty D.C. police officer accused of firing his service revolver into a car occupied by three transgender women and two male friends in August 2011 was convicted Friday of assault with a dangerous weapon and solicitation for prostitution. But a D.C. Superior Court jury also found Officer Kenneth Furr, 48, not guilty of six other charges, including the more serious offense of assault with intent to kill while armed. Although three of them suffered non-life-threatening bullet wounds and two weren’t hit, prosecutors said any of the five could have been killed. “I really wonder what the jury heard and how they could decide not to find intent to kill,” said transgender activist Jeri Hughes. “You don’t fire a gun several times at people and not have intent to kill.” “It sounds like the defense did a good job in demonizing the victims,” said Hughes, who was among many LGBT activists who viewed the incident as another in series of violent attacks against LGBT people in the city over the past several years. (Lou Chibbaro Jr., Washington Blade, Oct. 27, 2012)

Women’s transgender status may have swayed jury to acquit shooting suspect: [We believe the victim is misidentified in the linked article as a cross-dressing man. Since the victim lives and presents as a woman that is why we are identifying her as such here.] A southwest Georgia prosecutor says he suspects a jury acquitted a suspect charged in a shooting because the victim was a man who testified wearing women’s clothes. Brian Jeremy White was found not guilty of armed robbery and aggravated assault charges Friday. He was accused of shooting Hayes in the leg while stealing her purse in September 2011. During the trial, Hayes wore women’s clothing and pearl earrings to court when she testified. District Attorney Greg Edwards says the jury’s verdict was probably influence by “the victim’s lifestyle.” (Associated Press, The Republic, Oct. 27, 2012)

Trans Women Resume Hunger Strike: Amazon and Caterina LePre (Cat) had been hunger striking because of anti-trans discrimination that was preventing them from being able to share a cell even though male prisoners in the facility have been allowed to choose their cellmates. Both women report discriminatory treatment by a feminist case worker who lied to them and used manipulative tactics to delay the cell transfer, as well as the RN monitoring their vitals who allegedly is reporting false information about their health and in one case refusing to provide medical treatment. As a result Amazon and Kat have been keeping their own records of their health information. Amazon and Cat wrote a detailed account of their ordeal which you can find in the linked post, along with how to send supportive letters to them. Additionally, they are urging people to call the warden. (Tobi Hill-Meyer, Bilerico Project, Oct. 21, 2012)

Trial starts in attack on trans woman: [The victim is misidentified in the linked article as a cross-dressing man. Since the victim lives and presents as a woman that is why we are identifying her as such here.]The trial of Brian Jeremy White, accused of armed robbery and aggravated assault in a Sept. 11, 2010 attack on Hayes, began before 12 jurors and two alternates Tuesday. The grand jury report stated that Hayes’ “handbag/purse” was stolen by White and that White shot Hayes in the left leg during the crime. Following opening arguments, Hayes took the stand. An attorney in the audience described Hayes’ clothing, a black and white pattern blouse and black slacks, as being more a transgender style than cross-dressing. (Pete Skiba, Albany Herald, Oct. 23, 2012)

 Judges hear gender reassignment appeal from incarcerated trans woman: Attorneys representing a trans woman prisoner Ophelia De’Lonta filed an appeal with a three-judge panel at the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, in an attempt to win her gender reassignment surgery. Bernadette Armand said that ”the treatment [Ms De’Lonta has received] has not been constitutionally adequate,” and went on to say that refusal to provide gender reassignment as a treatment for her gender dysphoria meant they were violating her Eighth Amendment rights. “The record reveals that Ms De’Lonta’s distaste for her own body is so severe that while in prison, she has mutilated her genitalia more than 20 times in attempts at self-castration.” (Joseph Patrick McCormick, Pink News, Oct. 24, 2012)

Trans activists honored in Clarion Alley mural: Tanya Wischerath inscribed on the wall, along with bios of each of the women portrayed: 

The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot occurred in August 1966 in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. This incident was one of the first recorded transgender riots in United States history, preceding the more famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. Although San Francisco continues to lead in the struggle for equal rights for the LGBTQI community, trans women are often left behind and in the fight for visibility. This mural is a dedication to the work of just a few trans activists out of many who have tirelessly committed themselves to paving the way for a more just, accepting, and righteous San Francisco.

(Caitlin Donohue, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Oct. 24, 2012)

Valjean Royal, transgender person of color 40 years in the PIC: Valjean Royal has been incarcerated for 40 years for a murder many realize she did not commit. She has exhausted all of her appeals, but as a trans woman of color the cards seemed always stacked against her. (Transspirituality, Oct. 24, 2012)

Jury Selection Begins for Officer Accused of Shooting Trans Women: MPD Officer Kenneth Furr is accused of opening fire on five people as he stood on the hood of their car. Furr has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the August 2011 incident. Authorities say he used his service weapon to fire through the windshield of a car, striking two transgender women and their male friend. (NBC4 Washington, Oct. 15, 2012)

Transgender Women’s Constitutional Challenge To Sharia Law Fails In Malaysia: In October, Judge Siti Mariah Ahmad, of the high court of Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, one of Malaysia’s thirteen states, struck down a first-ever constitutional challenge brought by four Malay trans women who sought the court’s protection for being unfairly targeted by Article 66 [which criminalizes those assigned male at birth “who dress in women’s clothes and behave like women in public”] of the Negeri Sembilan sharia law. Malaysian rights advocate, Thilaga, working in the Justice for Sisters campaign for the rights of mak nyah, says, “Transgender people don’t report violations by police or religious officers because they don’t expect justice. Often, they don’t know their rights and lack resources to go to court to fight charges.” The four applicants in the Negeri Sembilan case attest to this. (The New Civil Rights Movement, Oct. 16, 2012)

Trial for Kenneth Furr, D.C. police officer accused of solicitation, begins: [In correct language is used in this story, e.g. giving less authority to a trans woman’s preferred name, using “gays” as a noun rather than an adjective, and confusing being gay (sexuality) with being trans (gender identity).] Chloe Moore, a transgender woman, testified she was walking near 5th and K Streets last Aug. when she was approached by Furr, who she says was intoxicated. Moore says Furr continued to stalk her, offering money for sex despite her refusals. She says he stopped when he was confronted by other individuals, some of whom are also transgender. An arresting officer testified he heard shots and arrived to see Furr, gun in hand, jumping up and down on the hood of the Chrysler. According to one witness, Furr was yelling, “All you [expletives] are going to die.” (Sam Ford, ABC 7 News, Oct. 17, 2012) 

Malaysian AIDS Council criticizes transgender court ruling decision: Government-funded organization has criticized last week’s Islamic court decision ruling against four transgender women. The trans women were challenging an Islamic law that prohibits cross-dressing by arguing it infringes their constitutionally protected human rights of non-discrimination and freedom of expression. Justice for Sisters said that Judge Ahmad had failed to consider the fact that ‘many transwomen, including the four applicants in the case, have been subjected to physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse by officers employed by the Islamic religious department’. (Anna Leach, Gay Star News, Oct. 18, 2012)

Trial begins for D.C. cop charged with shooting trans women in car: D.C. Superior Court trial began on Wednesday for D.C. police officer Kenneth Furr, who was arrested while off-duty in August 2011 for allegedly firing his service revolver into the front windshield of a car in which three transgender women and two male friends were sitting. Two of the women and one of the men suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds in the incident. Earlier this year, a Superior Court grand jury handed down a 9-count indictment against Furr that included six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of solicitation for prostitution. Prosecutors have not listed charges against Furr as hate crimes. (Lou Chibbaro Jr., Washington Blade, Oct. 19, 2012)