Amariey Lej was shot and killed in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, on January 1, 2022. Lej is the first known trans person to be killed in the United States in 2022.
A graduate from Woodland Hills High School, Amariey was a dancer with the Lady Diamonds dance squad. According to the National Black Justice Coalition, she also worked with the Legacy Arts Project as a youth artist apprentice.
Lej’s family described her as a “vibrant soul with a presence that filled every space she entered” and said she “had an unforgettable presence that will be deeply missed.”
SisTers PGH, a Black and Trans led advocacy organization said in a press release, “This is our time, as trans people and activists, to gather and engage in conversations regarding safety and policy. It is our time to demand not only justice for Amariey, but for all of us.”
Amariey Lej’s family set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses and raised $15,377 before closing the fundraiser.
PghLESBIAN reported that there have been no further updates about the investigation that is now in the hands of the Allegheny County Police.
Anyone with information should contact the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
2022: Another Deadly Year For Trans People
The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) reported that we have lost 39 of our trans and TGNC siblings in the United States so far, and that number will continue to grow as long as anti-trans messaging in the media and anti-trans legislation and policies continue to spread.
Rest in power, Amariey Lej. May your memory be a revolution.
TransLash Media founded the Commemorations Project in 2020 to honor our trans and TGNC siblings whom we’ve lost to all forms of violence. Each year Team TransLash collaborates with one artist who creates illustrations for every deceased trans person reported by our trusted sources.
We are launching a dedicated hub for all of our commemorations in 2023; subscribe for alerts: www.translash.org/connect
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