NCAVP mourns the homicide of T.T. Saffore, a transgender woman of color killed in Chicago, Illinois

19th reported killing of a transgender/gender non-conforming person NCAVP has responded to in 2016

September 15, 2016 - The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the homicide of T.T. Saffore, a Black transgender woman, in Chicago, Illinois. According to media source the Windy City Times, T.T. was found murdered in Chicago's Garfield Park the night of Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. Jaliyah Armstrong, a friend of T.T.'s who organized a vigil in her honor, said: "T.T. was a lovely person. She was laughing all the time. You could be going through a bad day but once you saw [T.T.], she was such a happy cheerful person all that changed." Local police and media originally misgendered T.T., and in response, Armstrong spoke out about the police abuse transgender women face and the need for the Chicago Police Department and local media to take transgender women's lives and deaths seriously.

"I was saddened to learn of the violent death of T.T. Saffore in West Garfield Park this past weekend. We will work toward ensuring her memory is not forgotten or trivialized, as well as the countless unnamed or misnamed transpersons of color who have died violently," said Rachel Tillman, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor at Center on Halsted in Chicago. "We are available to offer ongoing support through legal resources, advocacy, counseling, and linkage to other Chicagoland services. If you or someone you know may benefit from support, please contact avp@centeronhalsted.org or 773.871.CARE. Lastly, we have reached out to Garfield Park neighborhood agencies, organizations whose mission is to serve LGBTQ people of color, and our law enforcement partners, as our impact on ending violence is advanced by embracing intersectional collaborations."

"We mourn the loss of T.T. Saffore and send our deepest condolences to her friends and loved ones," said Emily Waters, Senior Manager of National Research and Policy at the New York City Anti-Violence Project. "We amplify the concerns of T.T.'s loved ones as we call for an end to the violence that transgender women face at the hands of police and others. We need a national conversation about the high rates of violence transgender women experience, that centers the lives and voices of those most impacted. We must listen to transgender women when they tell us what they need to feel safe."

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 nineteenth* reported killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person that NCAVP has responded to this year. Along with T.T. Saffore, we have lost Rae'Lynn Thomas, a Black transgender woman (Columbus, OH), Erykah Tijerina, a Latinx transgender woman (El Paso, TX), Skye Mockabee, a Black transgender woman (Cleveland, OH), 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 deaths of Veronica Cano, a Black transgender woman, in San Antonio Texas; and Lexxi Sironen, a white transgender woman in Waterville, Maine. As of now there is no known cause of death in either case, however, we are continuing to monitor.