A Black trans woman was shot dead in a suspected domestic-related shooting at an apartment complex in Atlanta, Georgia on April 11. Ashley Burton, a 37-year-old trans hairstylist, was found dead on the second floor of the building with an apparent gunshot wound. Police believe that the killer may have stolen her phone after the shooting.
Burton had recently moved to Atlanta to continue her career as a makeup artist and was described as selfless and gentle by her cousin, Ivory Carter. “She was a sweetheart. She wasn’t nasty, she wasn’t disrespectful, she just wanted to live her life,” Carter said. “She was very full of life. It was always smiles and laughs with us.”
However, Burton’s death is not an isolated incident. According to a report by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), of all the trans men and women killed in 2022, 85% were people of color. The HRC found that 69% of victims of trans killings reported in the US were Black, while 85% of victims identified as trans women. Hate crimes towards trans people typically occur against trans people of color, with reports from 2021 suggesting a similar trend.
This year is no different, with four of the eight reported murders tracked by the HRC involving Black trans women, not including Burton. Sadly, few of these cases are resolved, with 61 investigations out of the 175 trans deaths in the US in the past five years remaining unsolved.
The violence against trans people, particularly trans women of color, is a pervasive issue that demands attention and action. The LGBTQ+ community and its allies must stand together to ensure justice for Ashley and all those who have lost their lives due to senseless violence and discrimination.