Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are more than just statistics. How can we ignore the fact that, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2012 had the fourth highest rate of murders of LGBT people in history, and of all these victims, 73 percent were LGBT people of color, with black transgender women accounting for the highest number of the homicides? Where is the outrage, not just from the mainstream media but within our own community? In this new episode of NoMoreDownLow.TV, we wanted to shed some light on these victims, who cannot be forgotten, and hopefully incite some outrage.
Featured in this episode are Alvin Beathea and Judean Jones, the parents of JaParker "Deoni" Jones. Deoni was fatally stabbed at a bus stop in Washington, D.C., last year. We'll hear how they are keeping the memory of their transgender daughter alive.
Also remembered: Rashawn Brazell, who was murdered in what was called a "butchering" of the 19-year-old in Brooklyn; and Mitrice Richardson, a former beauty queen from Los Angeles.
Next, we'll take you to the candlelight vigils following the recent murders of Islan Nettles and Dominique Newburn, two African-American trans women who were murdered in August 2013, and hear actor/trans advocate Laverne Cox's public appeal for justice for the trans community.
In Atlanta we'll look back at the murder of gay-club owner and straight ally Durand Robinson and how his death continues to reverberate throughout Atlanta's black same-gender-loving community.
And finally, we'll hear from transgender advocates who participated in the National Black Justice Coalition's "Out on the Hill" LGBT leadership conference during the Congressional Black Caucus Weekend in 2011, lobbying on Capitol Hill for justice for transgender people of color.
Watch our special report and learn more:
NoMoreDownLow.TV remembers the victims, talks to parents and friends who are taking action and seeks answers to the question of how to stop this epidemic of violence against our community.
