NBJC

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) Grieves the Death of Dominique Lucious

Lucious Was the 14th Trans Person, 9th Black Trans Women Killed in 2021

CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com 

MISSOURI – The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) mourns the loss of Dominique Lucious, a 26-year-old Black transgender woman who was shot and killed in Springfield, Missouri on April 8, 2021. Springfield Police have identified and arrested a suspect in Dominique’s death, a man she met on an online dating website. Dominique’s friends and family have been sharing memories on social media and have said she was fierce, glam, had a good heart, a beautiful soul, and was a strong, courageous person who overcame many barriers in her life. 

“Black trans women, like every other community of women, should feel safe in the pursuit of the joy and fulfillment that each of us as humans both need and desire and it should not be the case that online encounters lead to death or violence for any member of our community,” said David J. Johns Executive Director.  “My hope is that every online dating platform is doing much more to ensure the safety of the users, especially Black trans and non-binary users. We have failed Dominique and my hope is we do right by her and her sisters in her death.”  

According to NBJC, Dominique is the 14th trans person and the 9th Black trans woman to be killed in 2021. The number of trans or non-binary deaths we have seen so far this year is nearly double what was recorded at this time in 2020. According to NBJC’s Stolen Lives List, 2020 was the deadliest year on record for the transgender and non-binary community. 

Crystal Quade, member of the Missouri House of Representatives and Democratic Floor Leader, said in a statement on Dominique’s death that anti-trans rhetoric and legislation that targets the trans and non-binary community continues to fuel the violence we see all too often against trans people, especially trans women of color.  

Recently, there has been legislation in states across the nation that have sought to prevent transgender athletes from participating in sports and prevent trans children from getting gender-affirming health care. These bills do nothing but oppress and marginalize the trans community when what they really need is legislation that will work to protect the community from the epidemic of violence they are currently facing.   

The investigation into Dominique Lucious death is still ongoing, and the Springfield Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact them at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-8477. The family is seeking donations for a funeral fund, which you can donate to using the cash app information here: $Salina1973. 

To learn how to reduce gender based violence, look here and here. 

To learn more about changing your local laws to increase protections for trans and non-binary community members, look here. 

The NBJC Stolen Lives list of trans and non-binary siblings lost to violence and hate can be found here.