We are saddened and enraged to learn of the passing of Chyna Carrillo. Chyna’s death marks the 7th recorded murder of a trans person in the United States in 2021 alone. On February 18th, Chyna was murdered in her home in Wilmington, Pennsylvania as a result of intimate partner violence. She was a proud Trans Latina, an advocate for her community, and unapologetically herself. Just days short of her 25th birthday, Chyna’s death reminds us that the average lifespan for our trans siblings continues to grow shorter and shorter.
We are heartbroken to be saying goodbye to another one of our trans sisters. We are enraged that by February of this year alone, seven trans girls have been murdered already. This includes Dominique Jackson, a Black trans organizer and strong advocate in the South who was murdered at the beginning of 2021. This sparks a larger question: When will the lives of trans women, particularly Black and Latina trans women, stop being numbers that are added to a rising toll?
This statement is not a cry for help, but a call to action. In how much pain do you need to see those around you to say enough? To work to combat the transphobia that we are forced to endure on a daily basis? Educate yourself, debunk the myths held by those with whom you are in close relation, and tell them about the history and legacy of trans people – we have always been here. Our communities are tired of having to lay our trans siblings to rest because of transphobic actions that target us. Enough is enough!
May Chyna’s memory and legacy move us and our allies into action. Please tell your friends, neighbors, and zoom chats of the horrific experiences that our TGNC community has to endure. Don’t let the rising toll of trans murders in 2021 surpass 2020. Let our siblings live!
#ChynaCarrilloPresente