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Her death occurred in October but is just now being widely reported, bringing 2021's total to 55.
Another transgender American has been reported to have died by violence in 2021, bringing the year's already record total to 55.
Black trans woman Keeva Scatter, 34, was shot to death in Baton Rouge, La., October 15, TransGriot reports. Her body was found just a block away from her home. Local media deadnamed and misgendered her at the time. Little other information is available.
"Although little is known publicly about Keeva Scatter, we will make sure to honor her memory," Tori Cooper, the Human Rights Campaign's director of community engagement for its Transgender Justice Initiative, said in a press release. "The epidemic of violence against transgender and gender-nonconforming people stole over 50 lives in 2021, and those are just the stories that we know of. The majority of cases were like Keeva's, Black trans women, often victims of gun violence. We must work to create a society where Black trans lives are valued and are not cut short."
The previous record for violent deaths of trans Americans was 44, set in 2020. Activists and media have been keeping track of these deaths for about nine years.
Much of the violence against trans Americans involves guns. More than 10,000 hate crimes in the U.S. each year involve a firearm, which equates to more than 28 each day, according to a 2020 report from HRC, Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, Giffords Law Center, and Equality Florida.
The Baton Rouge Police Department is continuing to investigate Scatter's death. Those with information are urged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.
