NCAVP mourns the homicide of Brenda Bostick, a Black transgender woman killed in New York City

The 10th reported killing of a transgender person of color NCAVP has responded to in 2017

May 6, 2017 - The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) mourns the death of Brenda Bostick, a 59-year-old Black transgender woman, who died on May 4th, 2017 from injuries sustained in an attack on April 25th, 2017 in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. According to media reports, Brenda Bostick was found unconscious with head trauma on Tuesday, April 25th. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she died of her injuries on May 4th, 2017. According to additional media sources, her injuries do not appear to be self-inflicted or caused by a fall and police are investigating her death as a homicide.

"Transgender woman are targeted all too often for severe and deadly violence," said Beverly Tillery, Executive Director at the New York City Anti-Violence Project. "We are facing a crisis of violence. Ten transgender woman have already been killed so far in 2017 , nine have been Black transgender woman and one woman was Native. As a society we can stop this epidemic by hiring trans women of color, making sure they have safe places to live and standing up when we see or hear them being demeaned and attacked and simply by valuing their lives. The moment to act is now."

NCAVP's most recent hate violence report, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Hate Violence in 2015, recorded 24 reported hate violence homicides of LGBTQ people, a 20% increase from the 20 reported anti-LGBTQ homicides in 2014. Of the 24 reported homicides, 62% of the victims were people of color. Sixteen (67%) of the 24 reported homicide victims were transgender and gender non-conforming. Of the total number of homicides, thirteen (54%) of the victims were transgender women of color.

In 2016, NCAVP responded to the homicides of 23 transgender and gender nonconforming people, the highest ever recorded by the Coalition. 

NCAVP is a resource for anyone who experiences violence.  For more information, or to locate an anti-violence program in your area, please contact us at info@ncavp.org or visit us online.  Join NCAVP in our efforts to prevent and respond to LGBTQ and HIV-affected violence.  To learn more about our national advocacy and receive technical assistance or support, contact us at info@ncavp.org.

If you are a member of the media, please contact:

Sue Yacka, New York City Anti-Violence Project: syacka@avp.org or 212-714-1184

NCAVP works to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-affected communities.  NCAVP is a national coalition of local member programs and affiliate organizations who create systemic and social change.  NCAVP is a program of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.