NBJC Mourns the Stolen Life of Tayy Dior Thomas
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
MOBILE, AL – The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) mourns the death of Tayy Dior Thomas, a 17-year-old Black transgender girl who was shot to death on May 7th, 2024 in Mobile, Alabama.
“Tayy was deeply loved and always had a huge smile on her face,” her grandmother said, recalling how selfless she was. Her body was found when police responded to a report of shots being fired at her home. In addition to shots being fired, a vehicle crashed into her house.
Carl Washington Jr., 20, has been arrested and charged with Tayy’s murder. He pleaded not guilty and was denied bond. In spite of being dead-named by a local media outlet, Tayy’s family confirmed her trans identity and that Thomas and Washington had been dating for about a year. The family believes Washington was afraid their relationship would become known to others. If this is true, it’s another sad example of how transphobia kills, literally.
“Black men and boys who love Black trans women and girls should not be afraid public acknowledgment of their love will lead to stigma, shame, or any of the feelings that undergird transphobic violence,” said CEO and Executive Director David J. Johns, PhD. “Too often, brothers love sisters under the cover of darkness, and as a community, we have much work to do if we’re ever going to address the ignorance, fear, and hate that often fuel transphobia in all of its ugly manifestations. Our sisters should be able to trust us. They deserve better, all of them!”
“It’s noteworthy that the police and prosecutors, thus far, have not charged Washington with a hate crime. Alabama’s hate-crime law does not include crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity,” Johns continued. “NBJC calls on the Department of Justice to investigate this crime to the fullest extent of the law.”
NBJC continues to push for the passage of the Chyna Gibson Stop the Transgender Murder Epidemic Act of 2023, which would establish a commission to address the epidemic of fatal violence, economic discrimination, and other factors disproportionately impacting members of the transgender community and make recommendations to Congress on appropriate remedies.
Learn more about, mourn the loss, and remember the lives of the Black trans siblings we have lost this year by viewing NBJC’s Stolen Lives campaign HERE.
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.
