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Fatal Shooting of Angel Naira Marks 47th Known Anti-Trans Killing of 2021

by Kilian Melloy

EDGE Staff Reporter

Tuesday November 23, 2021

The shooting death of Angel Naira, 36, a trans woman of color, marks the year's 47th known murder of a transgender or gender non-conforming person and underscores 2021's record-breaking number of transphobic killings.

The body of Naira, who "was described as 'a great person' and well loved by her family and friends," was found at her home in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, reported the Human Rights Campaign.

"She worked in home health care and graduated from Aliquippa High School and Beaver Falls Beauty Academy," noted The National Black Justice Coalition in a press release.

"Despite the rising violence in the two years since the American Medical Association declared it an epidemic and the tireless work of activists and community members to draw attention to the issue, little action has been taken," the National Black Justice Coalition added.

"There are constant calls for elected officials to introduce and pass legislation that would protect the trans community, for media to treat the victims with respect by not misgendering and deadnaming them, for law enforcement to investigate and solve these murders. Instead of defending the trans community, we have seen an uptick in attacks through an increase in anti-trans legislation."

Naira's murder followed that of Jenny De Leon, "a 25-year-old Latina transgender woman who was found dead in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 2," the HRC, which tracks lethal anti-rans violence, reported.

Naira's death also follows the Nov. 4 shooting death of Marquiisha Lawrence, in Greenville, South Carolina

"In 2021, HRC has recorded more violent deaths of transgender and gender non-conforming people than any year prior," the HRC noted. "Previously, the highest number of fatal deaths of transgender or gender non-conforming people that HRC Foundation has tracked over a 12 month period was just last year in 2020, when at least 44 transgender or gender non-conforming people were killed."

The actual number of violent transgender deaths may be even higher, thanks to misreporting and the misgendering of victims.

Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.