As Pride Month Comes to an End, Jax’s Trans Community Faces Epidemic of Violence

What should be a month of celebration has turned into an extended tragedy for the LGBTQ+ community in Jacksonville.

This past weekend, a black transgender woman was found murdered at a Quality Inn just off of Baymeadows Rd. The victim is the third black transgender woman to be killed in the past five months in Jax – and the second just within the month of June, which is widely celebrated as LGBT Pride Month.

A fourth trans woman was shot as well but survived the attack.

JSO has yet to publicly identify a suspect. And the trans community in Jax is, understandably, on edge as a result.

Transgender women are among the groups most frequently targeted for violent acts, with as many as one in four trans women having experienced some form of physical violence. And trans women of color are particularly vulnerable; well over half of the 25 trans individuals murdered last year were trans women of color.

As a result, the current situation in Jax is being taken very seriously by activist groups.

Human Rights Campaign released a statement on their blog yesterday indicating their support for the local trans community.

“With four shootings – including three fatal shootings – of transgender women in the last six months, Jacksonville is now at the center of that crisis [of trans violence],” said Sarah McBride, the organization’s press secretary.

Jacksonville Transgender Action Committee, a local trans rights group, indicated that they were still at a loss for words when reached for comment yesterday.

The organization will, however, be holding two events aimed at encouraging local officials to act quickly to protect the city’s trans community. One will be held tonight at City Hall, and another will happen tomorrow at the Duval County Courthouse. Allies are encouraged to show up and make their voices heard.