Thirteenth black trans woman murdered in US as ‘epidemic of violence’ continues
Kiki Fantroy has been named as the 13th black transgender homicide victim so far this year (Human Rights Campaign)
A 21-year-old black transgender woman was fatally shot in Miami, Florida on Wednesday (31 July), marking the 13th known murder of a black trans woman in the US this year.
Kiki Fantroy was reportedly shot on a street corner near an abandoned home after an argument that turned violent. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she died of her injuries.
Fantroy is mourned by her mother, Rhonda Comer, who remembered her as having “a heart of gold” and being “a very loving person.”
She told the Miami Herald: “This feeling is indescribable. The pain. The void. You know that feeling after losing a child and you losing a child for no apparent reason. Because she’s gay.
“And my understanding, you know, my understanding was she was killed because of her desire to be a woman.”
Fantroy came out as transgender ten years ago while in school. She is said to have loved photography, “slaying” her hair and listening to music.
21-year-old Kiki Fantroy is mourned by her family (Dallas Voice)
Police say they are “making progress” with the investigation but are not treating the murder as a hate crime. Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the killer’s arrest and conviction.
“My baby ain’t hurt nobody. My baby, my baby. Please help bring justice to my baby,” Fantroy’s mother begged.
Ongoing “epidemic of violence” against black trans women
Fantroy’s death is the 13th known case of deadly violence against the transgender community in 2019. All of the victims were black transgender women.
The names of the other women are Dana Martin, Jazzaline Ware, Ashanti Carmon, Claire Legato, Muhlaysia Booker, Michelle Washington, Paris Cameron, Chynal Lindsey, Chanel Scurlock, Zoe Spears, Brooklyn Lindsey and Denali Berries Stuckey.
“It is clear that fatal violence disproportionately affects transgender women of colour, and that the intersections of racism, transphobia, sexism, biphobia and homophobia conspire to deprive them of necessities to live and thrive,” said The Human Rights Campaign.
“This epidemic of violence that disproportionately targets transgender people of colour — particularly black transgender women — must cease.”
Actress, model and transgender activist Laverne Cox (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty)
The actress, model and fellow black transgender woman Laverne Cox has discussed the reasons behind this violence.
In an interview on the Buzzfeed News talkshow AM2DM, she said: “Your attraction to me is not a reason to kill me.”
She explained: “There’s this whole myth that trans women are out there tricking people and deserve to be murdered, and that’s not the case.
“There’s been a market for trans women in the realms of dating and sex work for a very long time, we don’t have to trick anyone.”
She also touched on the systemic problems like homelessness, unemployment and lack of access to healthcare which make trans people more susceptible to violence.
