FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Susan Risdon, 214-226-6741 susan@redmediagroup.com

Equality Texas Statement on the Murder of Muhlaysia Booker

We are devastated that Muhlaysia Booker of Dallas, Texas has become the third transgender woman of color to be killed this year. We call upon the Dallas Police Department to pursue their investigation and find Muhlaysia’s killer(s).

Equality Texas decries the epidemic of violence targeting transgender women of color and all violence against members of the LGBTQ community.

Transphobic and homophobic rhetoric are directly linked to fostering a climate of hate, a climate where someone might see Muhlaysia Booker as less human than themselves, a climate where a group of men could surround and beat her in broad daylight, and a climate where she was ultimately murdered.

We know that anti-LGBTQ messages create an environment that allows for dehumanization, discrimination, and ultimately violence against, LGBTQ people.

We call on our state’s political leaders to denounce not only the violence against Ms. Booker, but the discriminatory, dehumanizing views of LGBTQ people that enabled her attackers. These same views motivated the 20-odd anti-LGBTQ bills filed in the legislature this year–one of which, SB 1978, was passed today by the Texas House.

###

Equality Texas is the largest statewide organization working to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration. The Equality Texas Foundation works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Texans through education, community organizing, and collaboration.