Amariey Lej is the first transgender person to be killed in 2022. Amariey Lej was a 20-year-old Black transgender woman who was found shot & lying in the streets of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania on January 1st 2022. Lej was a dancer who shared her gift & passion with the Lady Diamonds dance squad. She also worked with the Legacy Arts Project as a youth artist apprentice. Her family described her as a “vibrant soul with a presence that filled every space she entered” & said she “had an unforgettable presence that will be deeply missed.” Victoria Kirby York, National Black Justice Coalition Deputy Executive Director stated, “I am deeply saddened to learn about Amariey, who we lost on the first day of this year. As we enter this New Year, we must remain focused on ending the epidemic of violence facing the transgender, nonbinary & gender-nonconforming community. Currently, sufficient action has not been taken to protect the community & that must change soon to decrease the level of violence this year. We must continue to demand that those in power, elected officials, law enforcement, media, do better & do more. Enough is enough. We have lost too many siblings.” In 2021 NBJC tracked the deaths of 52 trans, nonbinary or gender-nonconforming people. Most of those we lost last year were Black transgender women like Lej. This violent & senseless attack on our transgender community must be addressed. The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is America’s leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black LGBTQ people including people living with HIV.
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