The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs ( NCAVP ) has learned of the homicide of Lamia Beard a transgender woman of color, in Norfolk, Virginia. According to local media reports, including the one linked here, which have been consistently misgendering and misnaming Lamia, indicate that she was found suffering from a gunshot wound early Saturday morning, January 17th. She was taken to a hospital where she later died from her wounds.
"Lamia's death is a tremendous loss, and tragedy so early in the year is a painful reminder of the disproportionate violence that transgender women of color face," said Osman Ahmed, NCAVP's Research and Education Coordinator at the New York City Anti-Violence Project. "We need immediate action on a national level to address this epidemic of violence against transgender women, so that in the days, and weeks and months ahead we are not issuing these alerts because our community members are no longer being killed."
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs' ( NCAVP ) most recent report, Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2013, documented 18 anti-LGBTQ homicides in 2013. Of those homicide victims, almost 90% were people of color. Almost three-quarters ( 72% ) of homicide victims were transgender women, and more than two-thirds ( 67% ) were transgender women of color.
NCAVP responded to the deaths of twelve transgender women of color in 2014.
NCAVP has been working with local NCAVP member the Virginia Anti-Violence Project to support the local communities affected by this violence.
"The Virginia Anti-Violence Project would like to express its sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and community of Norfolk, Virginia resident Lamia Beard. VAVP is always deeply saddened to hear of another senseless and preventable homicide of those who identify within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities, said Sean Smith at the Virginia Anti Violence Project. We at VAVP hope that throughout the investigative process, the media, police, and the public at-large, will respect Lamia's preferred gender identification and maintain a level of decorum and understanding when interacting with those individuals who identify within transgender and queer communities. We encourage those individuals who are unfamiliar with the transgender community to seek out organizations whose mission it is to spread awareness and solidarity with those individuals who identify as transgender."
NCAVP is a resource for anyone who experiences violence. For more information, or to locate an anti-violence program in your area, please contact us at info@ncavp.org or visit us online. Join NCAVP in our efforts to prevent and respond to LGBTQ and HIV-affected violence. To learn more about our national advocacy and receive technical assistance or support, contact us at info@ncavp.org .
If you are a member of the media, please contact:
Sue Yacka, New York City Anti-Violence Project: syacka@avp.org or 212-714-1184
Sean Smith, Virginia Anti-Violence Project: sean.smith@richmondgov.com or 804-258-0643
NCAVP works to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer ( LGBTQ ) and HIV-affected communities. NCAVP is a national coalition of local member programs and affiliate organizations who create systemic and social change. NCAVP is a program of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.
