Post submitted by Liam Miranda, former Senior Research Manager, Public Education & Research

HRC mourns the senseless loss of Shantee Tucker, a Black transgender woman who was killed Wednesday morning in Philadelphia in the 19th known case of deadly violence against the transgender community this year, and the third known case of deadly gun violence against Black trans women in the past seven days. Sixteen of the known victims of deadly violence against transgender people in 2018 have been women of color.  

The deaths this past week of Tucker, Dejanay Stanton in Chicago and Vontashia Bell in Louisiana -- all Black transgender women -- underscore the urgent need to address the epidemic of violence against the transgender community.

According to a local news outlet, Tucker, 30, was found on a highway in Philadelphia after being shot in the back. She was taken to Temple University Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Tucker had just celebrated her 30th birthday. Friends and family honored her life and mourned her death on Facebook, recalling that she was like “another big sister” to them and remembering her “beautiful spirit and fun aura.” Her cousin said that Tucker was now “waiting in line to get her halo.”

Violence against transgender people, particularly against trans women of color, is an epidemic that urgently needs to be addressed by our communities, elected officials and institutions.

Last fall, the HRC Foundation and the Trans People of Color Coalition released a comprehensive report detailing this tragic epidemic that made 2017 the deadliest year on record for transgender people. If this disturbing trend continues, 2018 may soon see more reported lives lost than in the previous year.

To learn more about HRC’s transgender justice work, visit hrc.org/Transgender.