In a devastating incident on November 14, 2023, Amiri Jean Reid, a vibrant 21-year-old Black transgender woman, and her friend Kejuan Richardson, a gender nonconforming gay Black man, became victims of fatal violence in Toledo, Ohio. The incident marks at least the 27th violent killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person in 2023, underscoring the alarming trend of rising violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
Toledo police responded to the shooting near Rosedale and Bluff, discovering both victims with gunshot wounds. Amiri died from two gunshot wounds to the head, while Kejuan succumbed to wounds in the head and neck. The suspected shooter, Jorenzo Phillips, eluded justice, ending his own life on November 23 after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Amiri’s untimely death adds to the grim statistic of at least 15 Black transgender women killed in 2023 and the 20th trans or gender non-conforming person killed with a gun. The broader context reveals a troubling increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, especially against transgender individuals. A 2022 report disclosed that over 25,000 hate crimes in the U.S. involve firearms annually, with a significant spike in hate crimes related to gender identity.
Tori Cooper, Human Rights Campaign Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, expressed the community’s grief, emphasizing that although identifying the killer provides some closure, it cannot bring Amiri back. The tragic loss of Amiri and Kejuan underscores the urgent need for change.
The disproportionate violence against transgender women of color, particularly Black transgender women, is a reflection of intersecting oppressions. Racism, transphobia, sexism, biphobia, and homophobia combine to create an environment where individuals are deprived of the essentials to live and thrive.
Amidst the heartbreak, we must demand accountability from our elected officials and oppose harmful anti-transgender legislation at all levels. The Human Rights Campaign declared a National State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans in June 2023, highlighting the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across states.
We must channel our collective grief into action as we remember Amiri Jean Reid and Kejuan Richardson. It is time to cultivate acceptance, reject hate, and end stigma for everyone in the trans and gender non-conforming community. Their lives, though tragically cut short, must serve as a rallying cry for a more inclusive and just society.
Sources:
- Keller, J. (2023, December 11). Remembering Amiri Reid. Human Rights Campaign.
- Ring, T. (2023b, December 11). Black trans woman and Gender-Nonconforming gay man killed in Ohio Double murder. Advocate.com.
- Photo Credit: Twitter