The National Black Justice Coalition Mourns the Stolen Life of Tee Arnold
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL– The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) mourns the death of Tee Arnold, also known as Lagend Billions, a 35-year-old Black transgender man who was shot and killed in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
Tee was a significant figure in the lives of his nieces and nephews from his large extended family. Friends and loved ones described Tee as compassionate and kind, always taking the time to connect, listen, and support them during difficult times. He was interested in travel, music, and good food. Tee was planning to celebrate his birthday in Bali later this year.
“Tee Arnold is the 4th death driven by hate of a trans man this year, marking a concerning rise in fatal violence against our brothers,” said Director of Public Policy and Programs Victoria Kirby York. “Weeks prior to his death, Tee posted that his life was in danger, indicating that if the police had taken action on the threats against his life, this tragedy could have been prevented. We also cannot ignore that this murder occurred in Florida, a state that has been leading the charge in anti-trans legislation and rhetoric. Similarly, we cannot forget that, more often than not, requests for law enforcement protection from Black LGBTQ+/SGL people are not provided even though we face disproportionate hate-driven violence.
“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.
Anyone with information on the death of Tee Arnold is asked to contact the Hallandale Beach Police at 954-457-1400 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
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.
