Transgender Woman Found Murdered in Detroit

The victim's body was found in a trash can behind a bar; her identity remains unknown.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

November 18 2013 6:20 PM EST

September 18 2018 9:24 PM EST

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A murder victim whose body was found in a trash can in Detroit November 8 has not been identified, but both LGBT advocates and police say the victim was a transgender woman.

"We are saddened and angry to hear of the murder of another transgender woman of color who has yet to be identified," said Yvonne Siferd, director of victim services for Equality Michigan, an LGBT rights group, in a press release. "The undignified way in which her body was dumped speaks to the larger issue of antitransgender hostility in our society, and the vast amount of work we, as supporters of the LGBT communities, have in front of us. We know that transgender women of color are the most disproportionately affected by violence and hate against the LGBT communities, and this latest incident is a tragic reminder of that reality."

The body was discovered by a mother and son looking for bottles and scraps in trash cans, according to Detroit TV station WJBK. The can was located in an alley behind a bar. Little information has been released on the nature of the victim's injuries.

Equality Michigan points out that transgender people are at a higher risk of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation, compared with nontrans people. In light of this recent murder, other advocates are underlining this as well. View a WJBK report on the issue below.
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