While the LGBTQ community is constantly on the fight for their rights, the number of transgender homicides that have occurred is, unfortunately, on the rise. According to People magazine, at least 28 transgender homicides have happened this year. And the year isn't over yet.
One of the more recent homicides was the unfortunate death of Pennsylvania woman Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells. Dominique, a Black trans woman, was killed at the age of 27. She was found in a disturbing condition. Her body was located in the Schuylkill River in June, and it was apparent that she had been both beaten and stabbed. Her legs were found severed from her body.
This is a terrible way to go, but one that's too common for the transgender community. Dominique, and so many others, were killed solely because someone was uncomfortable with their way of life. Black trans women are targeted all too often.
Writer Abdul-Aliy Muhammad wrote a piece for the Philadelphia Inquirer that showcases how much black trans women meant to the writer. "When I came out, it was Black transgender women who taught me how to be intimate, how to love, and what to look out for to protect myself," Abdul-Aliy wrote. "Black transgender women are the mothers not just of movements (including the turning point at Stonewall) and ballroom houses, but mothers, too, of a story not often amplified by society."
"They hold the histories of our queer Black communities," Abdul-Aliy continued. "Without their memories, the transphobic dominant narrative — that gender is sex and assigned at birth — would win." Abdul-Aliy happened to know Dominique personally.
Abdul-Aliy was upset that Dominique, known best as Rem'mie, would be known more by her death than the beautiful life she lived. In writing, Abdul-Aliy captured her spirit, showcasing why she was such an important part of the LGBTQ scene in Philadelphia.
"Now the city's first collective memory of Rem'mie will be the disturbing details of her murder and not her powerful presence," Abdul-Aliy wrote. "Rem'mie was the beautiful daughter of Terri Edmonds and eldest of three, older sister to Desiree and Dior. Rem'mie loved fashion, modifying clothing, organizing fashion shows, and glamorously walking runways. She was more than the brutalization that befell her."
Abdul-Aliy noted that the attention right now needs to be on Black trans women, since they're at a high risk of danger. "The Black Lives Matter movement only gets to collective freedom when we show up for the most vulnerable targets of oppressive systems, like Black trans women," Abdul-Aliy wrote. "Otherwise we are not in service of Black liberation."
At the very least, the many who loved Rem'mie will be happy to know that action is being taken in regard to her death. Her suspected murderer has been identified as 36-year-old Akhenaton Jones. Currently, a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
While it's important for those who loved Rem'mie to see justice take place, it'll never take away the hole in their hearts that will never be filled again. Rem'mie was a friend to the entire community. "Rem'mie exploded into my life," Philadelphia LGBTQ activist Kendall Stephens said in an interview with People magazine. "She was just a vivacious, colorful live-out-loud person."
"She really captivated the entire room, it was all eyes on Rem'mie," Kendall continued. "Her life was cut short before she could see her dreams realized. She had many dreams, many hopes, and many desires. And she was taken away from us so horrifically."
The news of Rem'mie's death only worsens when you realize that she wasn't the only Black trans woman who was murdered on June 9. Riah Milton from Liberty Township, Ohio, also lost her life. Riah was shot multiple times after three suspects tried to rob her and steal her car.
The suspects got away with Riah's car, but they left her body on the 6000 block of Spruce Creek Drive near Liberty Park. She was found the next morning. Kaleb Tooson, 19, confessed what happened to the police, leading other suspects to be taken into custody. But the case isn't closed just yet.
Riah's sister, Ariel Mary Ann, honored her sister with kind words after her tragic death. "It has been amazing watching so many people uplift my sister," she told Fox19. "To see so many people demand justice for Riah, and people I don't know reaching out to me, it's amazing."
But one of the most frustrating similarities about these two cases isn't just the fact that two Black trans women were targeted. It's that their killers are still at large. While some information has come out, and a few suspects are in custody, there's still unrest — especially in the LGBTQ community.
And that's because they live in fear of being the next case. "Two Black transgender women were killed," said Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David. "This horrifying news comes the same week that we remember the 49 people gunned down at Pulse in Orlando, as millions continue to take to the streets to declare 'Black Lives Matter,' and as a billionaire author with a gigantic megaphone continues to spout off transphobic propaganda to her millions of followers."
"Tragedy does not happen in a vacuum, and each of these events show how much work we still must do to ensure dignity and justice for all," Alphonso continued. "These two women — Dominique 'Rem'mie' Fells and Riah Milton — deserve to have their names known. As our country faces a long-overdue reckoning with the violence and indignities that Black people have dealt with for centuries, we must affirm that Black Trans Lives Matter."
These crimes have to stop. And these young women deserve to rest in peace, with their killers behind bars. If you know anything about the murder of Rem'mie Fells, please call the Philadelphia Police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
