Cashay Henderson, a Black transgender woman, was killed in Milwaukee on Sunday. Henderson was 31 years old at the time.
Cashay Henderson is at least the seventh transgender person to be killed in the United States this year, according to the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents blog.
Furthermore, she is the third Black transgender woman killed in Milwaukee in the last nine months. On Sunday morning, Henderson was discovered dead from a gunshot wound in a burning apartment building.
Fox 6 Milwaukee reported that no arrests had been made regarding her death. Keep reading to learn more about her.
Who Was Cashay Henderson?
PGH Lesbian Correspondents reported that Cashay Henderson, originally from Chicago, loved makeup, fashion, hip hop, and restaurants, as seen through her social media accounts.
She was an active Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity (SHEBA) member for over five years, a biweekly meeting space for Black transgender women.
After her passing, the organization remembered her, noting that she was also known as Gemini Shanti and that she was inspiring to many of the members.
Henderson attended the funeral of another Black trans woman, Regina “Mya” Allen, who was killed in Milwaukee in August 2022.
The Black Rose Initiative, a coalition of Black transgender leaders in Wisconsin, also paid tribute to Henderson on Facebook, calling her a great friend and influencer in their community who is dearly missed.
SHEBA expressed their heartbreak and fear regarding Henderson’s death, as she is the third Black transgender woman to be killed in Milwaukee within the past year.
In addition, Diverse and Resilient, a Milwaukee-based advocacy group for the LGBTQ+ community, also honored Cashay Henderson, posting on Facebook.
They described her as a cherished and respected community member. Similarly, Henderson’s cousin, Veronica Beck, started a GoFundMe to cover her funeral costs.
The page describes Henderson as having a lively spirit and a down-to-earth, honest personality. It emphasizes that Henderson did not deserve the untimely death.
GoFundMe also acknowledges that Henderson was a transgender woman with stunning inner and outer beauty.
Case Update: 31 Years Transgender Woman Shot To Death
On Sunday morning, Milwaukee Fire was called to an apartment building due to a fire near the front of the building.
The residents were evacuated, and firefighters found a woman’s body who had been shot to death in one of the units.
The victim was identified as Cashay Henderson, a 31-year-old Black transgender woman.
The firefighters responding to a fire found Cashay Henderson inside her apartment on Sunday, February 26th. She had suffered a gunshot wound.
A Milwaukee nonprofit posted a message on Facebook mourning Henderson’s death and described her as a “loved and valued member of our community.”
The police are investigating her death as a homicide and searching for a suspect or suspects. Milwaukee activist Roby discussed the dangers transgender individuals face in the area.
They explained that the threat of violence is a constant danger that they must always be vigilant about.
Leaders within the LGBTQ+ community stated that they require additional backing from the community, further stating that such killings intensify fear, unease, and the impression of being singled out.
In the wake of the incident, members of the transgender community in Milwaukee reflect on the loss of the 31-year-old woman and highlight the dangers that transgender women face simply for being themselves.
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