Transgender woman murdered on Milwaukee street

[Butterfly]

Transgender woman murdered on Milwaukee street
Edge Boston
by Joseph Erbentraut
EDGE Contributor
Thursday May 20, 2010


http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=105882


While mainstream media's news reports of Dana A. "Chanel" Larkin's murder on Friday, May 7, in Milwaukee have focused on the alleged perpetrator's version of what he said happened, the crime's scant media coverage has offered little to no information on who she was.

According to those who did know her, Larkin, 26, was a young transgender woman of color who loved her family and friends. She had turned to sex work to make ends meet.

[lightvi]

Oh my god that's so horrible! It makes me realize how dangerous it can be out there for us.

[gennee]

Another young transgender woman's life snuffed out. As a transgender woman of color this hits home with me. I'm not a sex worker but the fact that transgender people find it difficult to get work because of discrimination highlights the situation.

Gennee  

[Hermione01]

How sad. 

[V M]

This hurts me so deep inside every time it happens 

And it's not only those involved in the sex trade that fall victim... But they are often targeted

[Kristyn]

In Canada this guy would get, at most, 7 years and be out in three.  I had a friend who was murdered just over five years ago--her case remains unsolved.

[accord03]

Everybody gets killed everyday. I'm sure it wasn't based on her transition. It's life and it can be real tragical.

[LordKAT]

Everybody gets killed everyday. I'm sure it wasn't based on her transition. It's life and it can be real tragical.

bad grammar aside, It sounds like it has to do with her inability to get SRS that set off the murder. Since it does happen, I would not be so sure that it has not.

[accord03]

Yeah, that was definetly bad grammar. I'm sure it wasn't cause she hasn't had SRS. That guy is just messed up in the head.

[LordKAT]

The bad grammar is

Everybody gets killed everyday.

not the  article.

[Jasmine.m]

How horrible... Both the murder and the fact that this poor girl had to turn to prostitution.

This is my backyard, so I'm particularly worried about it.

Here's the local news on it:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/93429384.html

Notice that the pronouns are all wrong and they clearly are not respectful of her gender identity...  "Larkin, dressed as a woman" and "The two men continued to struggle".

Such a tragic loss that just simply didn't need to happen...

[jesse]

RIP sister anouther candle anouther cold chill
jessica

[justmeinoz]

What she did for a living is irrelevant, she deserves the full support of the law and due respect by the  newspapers.   

[tekla]

It reaffirms my belief that amount the most important parts of transition is gaining enough education and job skills so you don't have to resort to this kind of living.  It's an extremely dangerous way to make money no matter who you are. 

[Kristyn]

It reaffirms my belief that amount the most important parts of transition is gaining enough education and job skills so you don't have to resort to this kind of living.  It's an extremely dangerous way to make money no matter who you are.

As a matter of fact, that was my number one priority when I started to transition.  Every trans person I knew at that time just wanted to go out party and have sex.  Now one of them is dead, another acquired aids and is probably gone by now, and I'm pretty sure the rest did not get much further

[MsFierce]

It reaffirms my belief that amount the most important parts of transition is gaining enough education and job skills so you don't have to resort to this kind of living.  It's an extremely dangerous way to make money no matter who you are.

You can have all the ''Skills'' in the world and a good education and still not get a Job. In some states it's not illegal for someone to fire you because your Trans, some girls can't work and they do try to work. I'm sure that girl didn't wanna be a sex worker. As someone of color this hits me hard as well it's sad.