Texas
Human Rights Campaign
Transgender
HER
Black Trans Woman Dies: Media, Police Misgender Her
The National Black Justice Coalition, the HRC, Friends, and Family Mourn the Death of Za’niyah Williams, A Black Trans Woman Killed in a Hit-And-Run Car Crash in Houston Texas By: Audrey Cole/TRT Reporter—HOUSTON, Texas—Za’niyah Williams sounded like a typical young woman who had tried to have others accept her for who she was, a proud black trans woman of color, according to her FB Page.The 21-year-old, according to Trans Griot, “was found dead on Dec. 20, 2021, after a hit and run car crash in Houston, Texas.” Za’niyah’s death is, according to the best estimates by the trans blog, “the 52nd violent killing of a transgender or gender-diverse person in 2021.” Numbers often do not match across platforms because many transgender victims are often misgendered and/or go unidentified by family.On Dec. 19, 2021, a day prior to her death, Za’niyah reposted a message from Raven Symoné, someone she knew online, about 2021 being the last year that she was going to dwell on others not accepting her for who she was, something that most transgender people also struggle with throughout their lives.“This my last year letting ppl treat me like I dont matter.