Murder of LA Transwoman, Melony Smith, misgendered and disrespected almost went unnoticed

The mainstream media reported Ms Smith's murder using her birth name, further obscuring her identity by misgendering her. Thanks to Lexi Cannes her death will not go unnoticed.
 TransPride LA has verified a way to help with the final expenses of this young immigrant, but only a couple days remain before she is laid to rest.

The following article is one of only a few mentioning her death and a prime example of why we almost didn't know about her authentic gender.
**Trigger warning:
Source The San Gabriel Valley Tribune: BALDWIN PARK - A suspect has been identified in the beating death of a 26-year-old Baldwin Park man found dead inside a motel room earlier this week, officials said.

Stephen Gonzales, 28, of West Covina, was behind bars Thursday after being arrested by deputies from the sheriff’s Industry Station Wednesday on suspicion of drug possession, Lt. David Coleman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said. He was expected to be charged with the murder of Vanhxay Inthichack (Melony Smith) this week or early next week.

Inthichack’s body was discovered about 1:30 p.m. Monday inside a motel room he had rented in the 13900 block of Francisquito Avenue, investigators said.

Though it was not immediately clear how he died, an autopsy determined he had been beaten to death and the case was ultimately ruled a homicide, coroner’s officials said.

A motive in the alleged slaying was not clear, nor was the relationship between Inthichack and Gonzales.

Detectives identified Gonzales as a suspect through cell phone information and surveillance footage near the crime scene.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

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Trans Pride L.A. · 1,323 like this

12 hours ago · 

• UPDATE to previous update re: the death of Melony Smith. Many have wondered why there was no media coverage of this brutal murder.
  
  There was in fact coverage of the attack, but Melony was completely misgendered, using only her birth name, with NO mention at all was made of her trans status. Trans Pride L.A. has respectfully emailed the reporter of the story to ask that he please update his story and recognize Melony as she truly was. The story can be found here: http://bit.ly/160HmP4
  
  We also would like to update that those who would like to contribute to the fund to help pay for funeral expenses should go to the link provided below and NOT the PayPal account mentioned previously.
  
  http://bit.ly/167Wc0c

  
  

  
  

  Help Support Melony Smith Funeral Expenses

  www.giveforward.com
  

  Transgender girl was torture and murder, label as a hate crime. Need money for her funeral expenses. A short life, a tragic ending. a sweet transgender girl, on her way to getting her life together from a cruel world. Saving money for a car and going to 

Donations need to be made by the 18th. Donate at GiveForward. We need to take care of our own, but sadly I could not afford the lowest level of donations the fundraiser offered. I emailed the fundraisers author and asked her to lower the donation levels.

I have reached out to Brian Day the author of  The San Gabriel Valley Tribune's post which made no mention of her status via twitter, facebook and comments. I hope Mr Day will edit his article to at least make a mention of her transgender status

Brian Day has asked in this tweet that people contact him that knew Melony Smith.

@kellibusey I understand your feelings, but can't publish a story based on social media posts. Those who knew the victim, please contact me.
— Brian Day (@sgvcrime) September 15, 2013

You can comment on the sgvTribune's facebook posting of their article here.

• A suspect has been identified in the beating death of a 26-year-old Baldwin Park man found dead inside a motel room earlier this week, officials said.

  
  

  Suspect identified in Baldwin Park motel slaying

  www.sgvtribune.com
  

  Like ·  · Share

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  • 

    Kelli Anne Busey I am commenting in response to Brian Day's article "Suspect identified in Baldwin Park motel slaying" by Brian Day.
    There was no mention of the victim being transgender or her preferred name.
    It is my hope you update your article before she is laid to rest.
    Thank you, 
    kelli Busey
    planetransgender
    
    Murdered LA Transwoman, Immigrant Melony Smith, misgendered and disrespected almost went unnoticed
    http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/...

    Like · Reply · about a minute ago · Edited

R.I.P Melony Smith dear sister.

Five Charged In Connection With Gang Murder of Transgender Rapper Evon (Yung LT) Young

The criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee county charges Devin Lattrez Seaberry and Allen Ron Joseph with first degree criminal homicide punishable with life imprisonment.

CBS 58 Reports That three others, Victor L. Stewart, Ashanti M. Mcalister and Young's roommate Billy R. Griffin are all charged with substantial battery as party to a crime, and face up to three years in prison.

The criminal complaint goes on to say that Stewart believed Young assisted in the burglary of his and Griffin's residence. The complaint alleges all men in the apartment, Griffin included, began to beat Young in the kitchen. They allegedly got Young to confess to playing a part in the burglary of their apartment.

Stewart told police the group moved Young to the basement before killing him. We're told the gang members used bleach in an attempt to get of DNA evidence in the basement.

"The criminal complaint refers to Evon Young as Ebony Young, his given name. Evon was a woman living his life as a man. It does not appear that Young's sexuality gender expression played any part in the homicide."

The Hard Life of Our "T" Truth: R.I.P. Sister Brandy Martell

Brandy and her coworkers at the health care office look of defiance is a signature of our hard life. It comes from always having to be defensive, never trusting and the hard lessons learned from those occasions when we did and were hurt. Sometimes the hardest lesson is the one that ends in our murders.

Source SfBlog "This part of Oakland is a cab stand. It is also a hangout for transgender people; Brandy was there in her car with three other transgender women. Around 3:30 a.m., a couple of gentlemen walked by them. Judging by their clothes, they'd been at a nightclub. They made catcalls and aggressively hit on the women; one was very interested in Brandy, repeating how fine she was. The men wanted the women to come with them, but the women realized that the men did not "know what their T is" -- "T," or truth, is slang for a woman who is trans."

"The ladies then asked, "You know we're trans, right?" When they gave them the information, the pick-up ended. The men went up around a bookstore toward 14th Street. Around 5:30 a.m., the men returned, and the women were still in the car. One man opened fire on Brandy Martell, killing her."

My life isn't that much different from Brandy's as today I am recovering from another occurrence of hate. Maybe tomorrow I will also have to pay the ultimate price for my "T", I don't know.

But in the meantime I have the honor of working with hundreds of cisgender people who value each person for their individuality. To them, this acceptance is the ultimate expression of the American dream so on Mothers Day they gave me this rose saying simply "everyone gets one".

Brandy the Rose has wilted but the love and unconditional acceptance that it expresses has not. I want you to have this rose because everyone Brandy, gets one.

Dee Dee Pearson Memorial Today December 29 at 6pm

As we all know now a Kansas City Transgender woman Dee Dee Pearson was murdered on Christmas eve.

The killer reportedly confessed to murdering Dee Dee "after" paying her for sex and discovering she has a penis. I will not take his word that he paid her for sex. I will call out media sensationalizing this tragedy as a 'prostitute murder'. I will call out media for not using her preferred name and misgendering Dee Dee.

I would wager that after having sex with a transgender woman this 'man' killed her to preserve his 'macho' image. I will also contest his defense which undoubtedly will revolve around the vile and discredited 'Trans Panic' plea.

According to The Kansas City Anti-Violence Project (KCAVP) there will be a public memorial for Dee Dee Pearson today Thursday December 29th hosted by Alvin Brooks at her apartment on East 43rd St. at 6pm.

In July, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) released its report Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2010.

In 2010, NCAVP documented 27 anti-LGBTQ murders nationwide, the second highest yearly total ever recorded by the Coalition. Transgender women made up 44% of the reported hate murders in 2010, while representing only 11% of total survivors and victims.

RIP Dee Dee you are loved and will be missed.

MURDERED : Ebru Soykan Turkish Transgender Human Rights Activist

Turkey: Another Transgender Activist Murdered
Government Should Prosecute Violence, Prohibit Discrimination

Ebru's murder was the second this year of transgender activists in Turkey. She was a leading figure in an organization that worked to end police harassment and ill treatment of transgender people. She was stabbed in her home in spite of having notified the police of the dangerous man who they presently have in custody in connection with her murder.

Many people in Turkey feel that the police if not committing the violence, turn a deaf ear to warnings and a blind eye to crime if it is committed against transgender people.

The Human Rights Watch published the report "A Social Hell: State Violence, Abuse, and Harassment against Transgender People" in 2008 which describes Turkey as a place that “We Need a Law for Liberation”.

by k.a. Busey
March 13, 2009
planetransgender

Related on the web

Pink News U.K. "Transgender activist murdered in Turkey"

Why Should I?

"Why Should I?"

This is the response I received from a religious leader after he read my scathing note critiquing his behaviour during a transgender event and an invitation to continue the conversation.

I think it gave him the opportunity to slam the door shut.

Why should you care about the effect your actions are having on the gender variant?

By allowing your religion to lend credence to violence committed against gender variant people you are fueling the unbroken cycle of of violence and condemning us to horrific deaths. By being the leader of a major religion you are amplifying this message in a way that none other could, that we are less than you.

What is your motivation? Not the little voices to be sure. Or could that be why you got so angry? Is that why when I attend church some pastors look at me with such fear?
Look at me with fear! My god man, it's not my physical stature for sure. No it only could be one thing.

The Truth.

The fear is that I exposure our monetarily driven religions and the duplicity it nurtures by it's continuation of profiteering from the brutal transgender murders.

What is HRC's Motivation? Make one or two million dollars a night and hand local churches and 501's their 1 for 5 payoffs. Whats the hurry to change anything?Everyone is fat and happy.

Except you. When I show up. And the dead, and oh yeah, Jesus.

By Kelli Busey
December 13, 2008
planetransgender