NCAVP mourns the homicide of Skye Mockabee, a transgender woman of color killed in Cleveland, Ohio

NCAVP mourns the homicide of Skye Mockabee, a transgender woman of color killed in Cleveland, Ohio; the 16th reported killing of a transgender/gender non-conforming person NCAVP has responded to in 2016

August 2, 2016 - The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the homicide of Skye Mockabee, a black transgender woman, in Cleveland, Ohio. According to local media reports, Skye Mockabee was found murdered in a parking lot in the Puritas-Longmead neighborhood on Saturday, July 30th. Local press reports that Skye is the 4th transgender woman killed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio in the last 4 years. Initial police and media reports misnamed and misgendered the victim.

"Our hearts, minds and condolences are with Skye's family, friends, and community in this time of tragedy. All of us at BRAVO are saddened and outraged as our communities continue to be repeatedly targeted and we remain steadfast in providing services to the LGBTQI communities of Ohio," said Aaron Eckhardt, Training and Technical Assistance Director of BRAVO. "We must continue to come together as a broad community of support to say hate has no home in Ohio, hate has no home anywhere," Eckhardt added.

"Skye is the third Black transgender woman that we know of who was killed in July 2016 alone, and so far this year, 16 transgender and gender non-conforming people that we know of have been killed. This is tragic, and it is unacceptable," said Shelby Chestnut, Director of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy at the New York City Anti-Violence Project.

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.

This is the sixteenth* reported killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person that NCAVP has responded to this year. Along with Skye Mockabee, we have lost, Dee Whigham, a black transgender woman (St. Martin. Mississippi), Deeniquia Dodds, a black transgender woman (Washington, DC) Goddess Diamond, a black transgender woman (New Orleans,LA), Amos Beede, a white transgender man (Burlington, VT), Mercedes Successful, a Black transgender woman (Haines City, FLA), Reese Walker, a Black Transgender Women (Wichita, KS), Keyonna Blakeney, a Black transgender woman (Rockville, MD), Shante Thompson, a Black transgender woman (Houston, TX), Jasmine Sierra, a Latin@ transgender woman (Bakersfield, CA), Monica Loera, a Latina transgender woman (Austin, TX), Kayden Clarke, a white transgender man (Mesa, AZ), Maya Young, a Black transgender woman (Philadelphia, PA), Demarkis Stamsberry, a Black transgender man (Baton Rouge, LA), and Kedarie/Kandicee Johnson, a Black, gender-fluid 16-year-old (Burlington, IA) and Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum, a Black transgender woman (Los Angeles, CA).

*NCAVP is also looking into the death of Veronica Cano, a Black transgender woman, in San Antonio Texas. As of now there is no known cause of death, however, we are continuing to monitor.

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.

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.