life

Remembering Our Dead:
Honoring Life
By Cristan Williams

Johanna Langer,
Stabbed 120 times by Susan Mehuron
Date of Death:
January 2, 1994

Stella Eassie
Beaten to death with a sledgehammer
Date of Death:
July 17, 1985

Last year, I was collecting the names and pertinent information about individuals who were murdered because their gender expression violated cultural gender stereotypes and these were the two who broke me. I felt it happen. Something changed for me in that moment and that part of me has never recovered. As I wept before a computer screen containing literally hundreds of murder victims I realized that I was not only weeping for them - I wept for myself.

That day, I wept because these people died fighting to live as they had done throughout their lives. I wept because I understood the amount of hate that our culture has for… me.

Victim: Francisco Javier Luna
Location: Houston, Texas
Cause of Death: Multiple gunshot wounds, including ones to the
face, stomach, and shoulder.
Date of Death: March 4, 2001
Pertinent Info: The body of the 29-year-old transgender was found around 4:30 am Sunday morning in a parking lot on Avenue E in downtown Houston. Luna was found wearing women’s clothing and makeup. A brown wig was found near the body.

That same night the GLBT community gathered on the steps of city hall for a candlelight vigil. Although I never wanted to be feared or hated by anyone, last year I became conscious that my life was at risk just because I was transgendered. That night, I grieved for those who were murdered for being like me.

Victim: Brandi Houston
Location: Houston, Texas
Cause of Death: Murdered, allegedly by Richard Masterson
Date of Death: January 26, 2001
Pertinent info: Reported by the Houston Imperial Court. No other information available.

* * *

November is the month that is set aside to remember those who were murdered because their self-expression violated cultural gender stereotypes. The Remembrance movement is greatly attributed to the work of Gwen Smith and her web site, "Remembering Our Dead” (http://www.gender.org/rememberourdead). Smith began this project three years ago after the murder of Rita Hester.

There is little statistical data documenting the number of transgender murders that take place. Historically, agencies such as the US Dept. of Justice as well as most media organizations categorize these crimes as violence against gays. Most commonly, murder victims will only become identified to the community as transgender if the media has sensationalized the victim’s gender expression through headlines such as, "Murder Victim found to be a Man in a Dress."

Last year, Gwen Smith called on organizations across the world to participate in Remembrance. Once again, the call has gone out and Houston is responding in several ways.

This year Community Awareness for Transgender Support (CATS) will mount a poster campaign as well as honor two individuals who have significantly contributed to breaking the cycle of hate, ignorance and violence. CATS will honor and give thanks to Phyllis Frye and Ray Hill Wednesday, November 7 at La Strada (322 Westheimer, Houston) for their long years of devotion to the community and it's people.

If you would like to learn more about Remembering Our Dead or would like to attend the free event honoring Phyllis and Ray, contact us by email at tghelp@tghelp.org or call 281-585-8089.

In Memorandum

Victim: Willie Houston
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Cause of Death: Shot, allegedly by Lewis Maynard Davidson III
Date of Death: July 29, 2001
Pertinent Info: Houston was not himself transgendered, but faced anti-trans/gay violence because he was carrying his wife’s purse while assisting a blind male.

Victim: Loni Okaruru
Location: Washington County, Oregon
Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma to the head
Date of Death: August 26, 2001

Victim: Fred Martinez, Jr. (AKA Fredericka, F.C.)
Location: Cortez, Colorado
Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma to the head
Date of Death: June 16, 2001

Victim: Robert Martin
Location: Ashburn, Georgia
Cause of Death: Severely beaten
Date of Death: April 3, 2001
Pertinent Info: Martin was beaten on January 7, and laid in a semi-coma state in the hospital until his death.

Victim: Antonio Johnson
Location: Dallas, Texas
Cause of Death: Gunshot wound
Date of Death: April 10, 2001

Victim: Billy Jean Lavette
Location: West Savannah, Georgia
Cause of Death: Wound to the back of the head.
Date of Death: November 20, 2000

Victim: James Jerome Mack
Location: Buffalo, New York
Cause of Death: Beaten with beer bottles, sexually assaulted with a broom handle, strangled with an electrical cord and then drowned in a bathtub. His body was later set on fire in a trashcan behind a church.
Date of Death: January 21, 2001
Pertinent Info: Although Mack was not transgendered; he was in a relationship with a transgendered woman.

This article was made possible through the hard work and persistence of Gwen Smith.