Cashay Henderson, a Black trans woman, was fatally wounded in her residence in Milwaukee on Sunday, becoming the third identified Black trans woman to be murdered in the city in less than nine months.
Henderson’s passing has unsettled the LGBTQ+ community in Milwaukee, which is already contending with an increase in hateful rhetoric and policies across the nation.
Veronica Beck, Henderson’s cousin, had seen Henderson’s Facebook posts about her lost friends and felt frightened.
Beck had conversed with her cousin about the challenges of her life as a Black trans woman and had never anticipated it would happen to her.
Christopher Allen, the president and CEO of Diverse + Resilient, which serves Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community, stated the community’s immediate reaction to Henderson’s murder was “sadness, anger, and fear.”
Henderson’s family initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help fund memorial services, and the page had exceeded its $4,000 goal by Wednesday evening.
Brazil Johnson, 28, and Regina “Mya” Allen, 35, were also victims of shootings in Milwaukee in June and September of 2022, respectively.
A 31-year-old man has been apprehended and charged in connection with Allen’s death, but no arrests have been made in Johnson’s case.
An incentive of $28,000 is being offered for information leading to those accountable.
Milwaukee had not witnessed an identified Black transgender woman fall victim to homicide since Chanel Larkin, 26, was killed in 2010, rendering the trend of fatal violence against Black transgender women even more alarming.
The LGBTQ+ community in Milwaukee organized a vigil and town hall meeting for all three women on Wednesday, with approximately 40 individuals in attendance to converse about some of the challenges facing the local LGBTQ+ community.
Who was Cashay Henderson?
According to Henderson’s cousin Veronica Beck, Henderson was raised in Chicago with two sisters and possessed an extroverted, dominant personality who was always on the move and forming friendships.
Henderson always put consideration and effort into her appearance, and her family embraced her transition when she was around 13 or 14 years old. Beck, who currently resides in California, mentioned that Henderson eventually relocated to Milwaukee to find better opportunities.
While she feared for her cousin’s safety, she was proud of Henderson’s progress as an adult.
Beck recounted a lighthearted childhood memory of Henderson, recollecting an occasion when Henderson, as a child, refused to walk out from an overhang in a rainstorm out of fear it would ruin her beloved suede Hush Puppies shoes.
Beck stated Henderson was a participant of Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity, a support group for Black trans women, for five years and was “inspiring to many of our ladies” and “nothing less than a joy to be around.” Henderson had recently acquired a new car for herself and had been actively involved in various groups in Milwaukee for a long time.
Overall, Beck portrayed Henderson as someone who would “illuminate the room and own the room” and had been independent since she was very young.
Henderson’s family had perpetually supported her, and she was proud of the strides she had made in life.
The impact of LGBTQ+ community to violence
On Wednesday, a vigil was conducted outside the Milwaukee LGBTQ Community Center to memorialize LGBTQ+ lives lost to violence, including Cashay Henderson, Brazil Johnson, and Regina “Mya” Allen.
While Henderson was the primary focus, the event aimed to raise awareness about the perils that trans individuals confront living in Milwaukee.
Several speakers conveyed their fears and apprehensions following Henderson’s passing. Aaleh Hughes, with the center, articulated that existing in Milwaukee has become exceedingly perilous for trans women, and they do not even want to leave their residences due to the fear of being attacked.
Lady Lana with the Black Rose Initiative disclosed that she has recently contemplated reverting to a previous gender presentation because of concerns about her safety.
She mentioned the commonalities she shared with Henderson, including traumas, and how she could be the next target if she did not change her direction.
Lana conversed with Henderson the morning of her passing, and Henderson was making plans for her birthday and had a photo shoot scheduled.
Lana was heartened by Henderson’s actions that morning and urged everyone to continue living their authentic lives.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson also spoke at the event and appealed for an end to violence against any person that’s victimized or targeted because of hate, discrimination, or ignorance.
According to her cousin Veronica Beck, Henderson had an extroverted, dominant personality who always put thought and effort into her appearance.
transitioned when she was 13 or 14, and her family embraced her. According to Beck, Henderson moved to Milwaukee to find better opportunities and was making progress as an adult.
For five years, she was a member of a support group for Black trans women, called Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity, and was inspiring to many. Henderson’s passing has rattled Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community, which is also grappling with an increase in hateful rhetoric and policies across the nation.
The trend of fatal violence against Black trans women in Milwaukee is alarming, and addressing the root causes of this violence is crucial.
It is imperative to provide support and resources for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans individuals, who face significant challenges in society. By promoting unity and cooperating, we can construct a safer and more inclusive world for everyone.
