Mesha Caldwell, a Black transgender woman from Mississippi, was found dead outside of Canton, Mississippi last night. Her death is being investigated as a homicide, making her the first known trans person killed in 2017. As is often the case, initial media reports about her death have misgendered her.
Mary Young, a friend of Caldwell’s mother who’s known her since she was a child, said she was “hurt” when she heard people using male pronouns to describe Caldwell.
Young said Caldwell was a beautician and hairstylist. “She always, always dressed like a girl,” Young said. “And as she grew up, she became beautiful just like a lady.” […]
She said she saw Caldwell at a dollar store recently after not having seen her for some time. Young says she lost sleep Wednesday night knowing someone had taken Caldwell’s life. She remembers Caldwell as someone who was always dressed beautifully.
“I don’t care what she put on,” Young said. “It looked good on her.”
2016 was the deadliest year on record for transgender people, and not even a week into the new year, we are already saying the name of another trans woman lost. Rest in peace and power, Mesha.