Tyli'a "NaNa Boo" Mack: vigil held for murdered D.C. trans woman

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A vigil was held last night to mourn the loss of Tyli’a “NaNa Boo” Mack, a trans woman who was murdered in Washington, D.C. on August 26 near the Transgender Health Empowerment, Inc. (T.H.E.) offices.

According to the DC Trans Coalition, the vigil was hosted by T.H.E. and took place at the site of the stabbing attack, which left Mack dead and another trans woman seriously injured. A video scene from the vigil and comments by some in attendance can be found at Pam’s House Blend.

The Washington Blade reports that police are looking at the murder as a possible hate crime due to “homophobic language” that was used during the attack.

The Blade quotes acting Lt. Brett Parson, who oversees the D.C. police's Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, as saying, “This determination (to consider the crime a hate crime) is based on some information obtained during the early stages of the investigation that indicated some homophobic language may have been used during the attack. This determination is only preliminary and the final determination as to motive will be developed as the investigation continues.”

A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer.

The use of homophobic language is a strong indication of a bias-motivated crime. While trans women are not gay men, attackers often use anti-gay slurs against trans women, either during an attack or when talking about the attack later. Anti-gay language was used by the murderers of Angie Zapata and Lateisha Green and in the attack on an unidentified trans woman in Trinidad, Colorado.

Trans women, and especially trans women of color, are particularly vulnerable to this type of violent attack. The Colorado Anti-Violence Program has informed me that one thing concerned citizens can do in these situations is to hold the media accountable for reporting this violence and for using correct names and pronouns in their reporting.

Use of the wrong names and pronouns serves to reinforce incorrect stereotypes about trans people, as well as dishonoring and disrespecting our lives and the memories of those killed. Underreporting or failing to report on these murders and assaults diminishes the value of our lives and keeps the public from seeing the brutality and violence directed at trans people for no reason other than that we are simply living.

To learn more about bias-motivated crimes against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people, and to get safety information, go to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs Web site.