NCAVP mourns the homicide of Noony Norwood, a transgender woman of color killed in Richmond, Virginia

November 8, 2016- The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the homicide of Noony Norwood, age 30 a Black transgender woman, killed in Richmond, Virginia on November 6th, 2016. According to a Community Alert from local NCAVP member organization the Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP), Noony Norwood was shot on the southside of Richmond on November 5th and died the next morning. VAVP' s Alert quotes Norwood' s longtime friend Zakia McKensey as saying "Noony' s energy always brightened the room. She cared about her community and always lifted up and supported her friends and family."

"While there is still an active investigation happening into the shooting of Noony Norwood, we absolutely do know that perceived and actual gender identity and race often play a role in escalating violence against LGBTQ+-identified individuals," said Stacie Vecchietti, Director of the Virginia Anti-Violence Project. "VAVP hopes that throughout the investigative process, the media, police, and the public at-large, will respect Noony's identity and maintain a level of decorum and understanding when interacting with her family and other individuals who identify within transgender and non-conforming communities. VAVP will continue to stand in solidarity with the family and community of Noony and other LGBTQ+ individuals that have been impacted by violence."

"Noony Norwood's death is a heartbreaking milestone for our communities. She is the 23rd transgender or gender non-conforming homicide victim that we know of in 2016, exceeding last year' s 22 lives lost," said Shelby Chestnut, Director of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy at the New York City Anti-Violence Project." It is on all of us to address this crisis of violence affecting transgender and gender non-conforming people in this country, and the transphobia, misogyny and racism that is at the root of this violence."

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 2015, NCAVP responded to the homicides of 22 transgender and gender nonconforming people in total. This is the 23rd * reported killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person that NCAVP has responded to in 2016.\

Along with Noony Norwood we have lost we have lost Brandi Bledsoe, a Black transgender woman (Cleveland, OH), Jazz Alford, a Black transgender woman (Birmingham, AL), Crystal Edmonds, a Black transgender women (Baltimore, MD), T.T. Saffore, a Black transgender woman (Chicago, IL), 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), 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 looking into the deaths of Lexxi Sironen, a white transgender woman in Waterville, Maine, and Simon/Sierra Bush, a white genderqueer individual in Boise, Idaho. As of now there is no known cause of death in either case, however, we are continuing to monitor. NCAVP also looked into the death of Veronica Cano, a Black transgender woman, in San Antonio Texas, and at this time do not believe that her death was a homicide. We continue to send support to the loved ones of Veronica Cano.

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.