On the morning of Monday, August 24, I woke up, as I do most mornings, with my darling daughter, the Countess of Chaos, securely sleeping in her favorite place—my personal dirty pillows, a.k.a. my tits. Since I’m on vacation, I haven’t been as tapped into the community, as I’m trying to learn how to separate in order to prioritize self-care while sustaining this work. I refuse to follow in the same habits as our Transtors, who literally worked themselves to death.

I received some staggering news that left many New York activists, community partners, and siblings of the late Kiara St. James gobsmacked. What exactly had my flabbers so ghasted? 

Ok so BOOM! William Colon is a cisgender man working at NYTAG which just happens to be a FUBU (For Us By Us) organization.  He was the CFO (Chief Financial Officer), AS 👏🏼 A 👏🏽 CIS 👏🏾 MAN 👏🏿 and now is the CEO (chief executive officer) I’m guessing your values are aligned; but wait, how were they align? If you believe in the mission statement of this org you should’ve never taken either one of those roles! For those who don’t know, NYTAG was founded by Kiara St. James and Tanya Walker, with the help of other Black and Brown trans women, because let’s be serious: historically we’re the ones who get things done when it comes to community and public engagement. Taken from the NYTAG website, their mission statement reads: “To create pathways for TGNCNBI New Yorkers to build leadership, drive advocacy, and grow community rooted in collective care and power.” Their vision statement states: “A New York where every TGNCNBI person can lead, thrive, and shape the world they live in.” This is why many of us who knew, worked beside, and loved Kiara are perplexed. Just because you are qualified to do this work doesn’t mean you should be doing it. It’s giving Great gowns, beautiful gowns, not the right gown for this occasion!

Today in Canandaigua, New York, Precious Arzuaga, 40, was walked into a Ontario County Courthouse where she pled guilty to all charges in the murder and torture of Sam Nordquist, a 24 year old Trans masculine man who had traveled from Minnesota to Central New York to meet her in late 2024.

Eryka Caldwell’s, 41, live-in boyfriend, Jonathan Fernandez, 38, was arraigned in court Monday on charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Police say he fatally slit Caldwell’s throat and stabbed her multiple times inside their Brooklyn apartment early Sunday morning. He was found sitting on the couch calmly waiting for authorities to arrive before being taken into custody.

You often hear of families who have abandoned their Trans family member, even their GOFUNDMEs often misgender them which can be incredibly dehumanizing and painful for the friends and chosen family who knew them in life. To honor who someone is, is to respect who they authentically were both in life and death. In the interviews with both Tahiry and Sam’s family, they stood by their loved ones and used correct pronouns and names through immense heartbreak and grief. There was a vigil for Tahiry on Valentine’s Day and there wilI be one held in Canandaigua on February 17th.

Both family’s have created GOFUNDME’s to raise money for their travel and funeral expenses which will be significant as both will be bringing their children home from another state to lay them to rest. If you are in the position to give, at this moment, Sam’s GOFUNDME has raised $12,764 and Tahiry’s GOFUNDME has only raised $105.

Since Day 1 of the Trump Administration, the Trans community has been hit over and over again with vicious Executive Orders that challenge everything from their right to serve in the military, to ability to receive life-saving care, to questioning their very existence. While organizations and Attorney Generals from across the nation bring the legality and constitutionality of these actions to Federal Justices for intervention, the consequences of the hateful rhetoric spewing from our highest offices is parroted by the masses and puts the lives of every single Trans community member in more and more danger every day. This week alone, the murders of both Tahiry Broom and Sam Nordquist hit the news and an already hurting community.

(December 5, 2024) - News broke this week that Syracuse Justice, Felicia Pitts Davis refused to marry a lesbian couple in a civil ceremony in the Central New York city in mid-November. Shawntay Davis, 33, and Niccora Davis, 29 watched an opposite sex couple before them be married by Judge Pitts-Davis without issue but when it was their turn to step forward, the judge walked out with what one of the brides called, “a disgusted look” not to return. A second judge came out and took over leaving the couple confused and disheartened. They tried to enjoy their special day but thoughts of what happened and it’s implications lingered. The couple says they aren’t looking to punish the Judge but do hope this doesn’t happen to another couple. The Post-Standard cited two unnamed sources who said Pitts Davis told Doherty (the judge who stepped in) that she didn't want to marry the two women due to her "religious beliefs."

Pitts Davis was referred to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct while Gov. Kathy Hochul,