14/04/2024
US based LGBT+ newswire Them reports that an eighteen year old heterosexual male has been arrested for the murder last June of gentle and caring black transgender woman Ashia Davis, whose compassion and humanity had led her to graduate from a nursing course and she was looking forward to starting a new job looking after people. By contrast, the thuggish straight male who killed her has been charged not only with murder but also with felony firearm possession, carrying a concealed weapon, and obstructing an officer of the law. Special prosecutor Kam Towns of the Fair Michigan Foundation was certain that the climate of intolerance in the US has facilitated murders like this, and saying she feels such crimes have become “more brazen” in recent years. “[T]hey don't hide in the shadows as much as they used to, when they go after members of the LGBTQ+ community,” Towns said, adding, “there’s more of a target on their back, and people are responding to that in negative ways.” “Ashia Davis was a beautiful human being who deserves at a minimum to be alive today, sharing her cheerful spirit with us,” said Tori Cooper, community engagement director at the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice Initiative, following reports of Davis’ murder last year. “It’s beyond unacceptable that not nearly enough of those in power have spoken out against this inhumanity. We continue to call for justice – for Ashia and for all those we’ve lost without sufficient answers.”
