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Transgender Woman Murdered in Louisiana

Amia Tyrae Berryman
Amia Tyrae Berryman

Amia Tyrae Berryman, who died of gunshot wounds Monday, is the seventh trans American reported murdered this year.

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Amia Tyrae Berryman, 28, was found shot to death early Monday in a motel room in Baton Rouge, La., making her the seventh transgender American known to have been murdered this year.

Berryman was found about 1:15 a.m. at the Shades Motel and pronounced dead at the scene, reports TransGriot, citing local media, which misgendered and deadnamed Berryman. Like most of the trans people who died by violence this year (and others), she was a woman of color.

Baton Rouge police are continuing to investigate and so far have no suspects. Local newspaper The Advocate (no relation to this publication) sought an interview with Berryman's family, but they declined to comment.

There were 27 reported homicides of transgender Americans last year, which matched 2016 as the deadliest year on record for this population. The number in any given year is likely much higher, as some trans victims are misgendered or their deaths not reported at all.

[RELATED: These Are the Trans People Killed in 2018]

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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.
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.