The National Black Justice Coalition Mourns the Death of Semaj Billingslea
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
JACKSONVILLE, FL- The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) mourns the loss of Semaj Billingslea, a 33-year-old Black trans man from Jacksonville, Florida. On September 21, 2022, police found Semaj suffering from a gunshot wound outside a motel. He was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Semaj was an entrepreneur who started a cleaning business. He has been described as larger than life and cared deeply about his friends. He was a fan of Megan Thee Stallion and attended Florida State College in Jacksonville. On TikTok, he would post videos about being a proud trans man and of his children.
“Devastated to hear of yet another trans sibling killed in Florida this year,” said Deputy Executive Director Victoria Kirby York. “Between their deaths and the recent wave of anti-Black and anti-LGBTQ+/SGL legislation in the state, our community is suffering. People are going out of their way to harm us. More must be done to protect the Black trans community.
“With the midterm election coming up, these issues should be on the front of everyone’s mind. If elected officials want to represent us, they must ensure they are prioritizing our community. We need to vote out those who have harmed the ones we love and us. We can show them the power we have and what we need.”
Semaj is at least the 31st trans person to be killed this year and the third this year from Florida. We lost Duval Princess in January and Nedra Sequence Morris in May.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating Semaj Billingslea’s death, but there is currently no suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the office at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 866-845-TIPS. You can also email at JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org.
Learn more about reducing gender-based violence here and here.
Look here to learn more about changing local laws and increasing protections for trans and non-binary community members.
The NBJC Stolen Lives list of trans and non-binary individuals lost to violence and hate can be found here.
