Amariey Lei, a Black transgender woman known as Myara, was killed on New Year’s Day.
Around 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, local police in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, found Lei fatally shot on the street. According to Human Rights Campaign (HRC), her death is the first known violent killing of a transgender or gender nonconforming person in 2022.
SAY HER NAME ! AMARIEY LEI. A black trans woman was found dead new year’s day after being shot in Pennsylvania . This is a hate crime and there is not enough coverage for her ! pic.twitter.com/hhGc6TtDmC
— lily 98 (@gnglily) January 6, 2022
Lei grew up in Wilkinsburg and graduated from Woodland Hills High School. Her family launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for her funeral expenses.
Lei coached the Lady Diamonds, a hip-hop and majorette dance team, and was described as a “vibrant soul,” Trib Live reports.
“She was a blessing, to our team and to our lives,” Jazmaine Wade, one of the coaches for the Lady Diamonds, said, according to Trib Live.
One of the members of the dance team, Montrey Givner, told Trib Live that Lei taught her how to be confident, adding that she was “just the best person.”
There is an ongoing police investigation regarding Lei’s death, however, there have been no recent updates.
“While so many others are looking forward to the new year, establishing goals and resolutions and aspiring to their dreams, Amariey Lei’s family and friends are grieving the loss of such an important person in their lives. Only a day into 2022, we are discussing the importance of safety for all trans people in this country and the dire need for a protective policy that ensures our well-being and prosperity,” Tori Cooper, Human Rights Campaign director of community engagement for the transgender justice initiative, said.
“For all trans activists and allies, Amariey Lei’s death is a call to action and a reminder that we must continue to fight against racial injustice, transphobia, discrimination and all other forms of oppression and malice,” she added.
There were at least 51 deaths of transgender and gender nonconforming people in 2021, which was an increase than any other year since the organization began tracking this violence in 2013, according to the HRC.
With the increase of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, three-fourths of the confirmed homicides from 2017 to 2021 have involved a weapon, Everytown for Gun Safety reports. Moreover, in 2019, advocates reported a 43% increase in the emergence of anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
