Serenity Hollis, a trans woman, shot dead in suspected hate crime. She was just 24 years old
Serenity Hollis, a transgender woman, has become at least the 25th trans person violently killed in the United States so far this year. (Facebook/Human Rights Campaign)
Serenity Hollis has become at least the 25th transgender person to be killed in the United States so far this year as anti-trans violence continues to escalate.
Hollis – who was originally from Orlando, Florida – was shot dead in Albany, Georgia on 8 May, according to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT+ non-profit. She was just 24 years old.
Compounding the tragedy, Serenity Hollis was repeatedly misgendered and deadnamed following her death by both local media and law enforcement authorities.
Police have not yet made an arrest in the case, which saw Hollis shot in the back and killed in the early hours of the morning on West Highland Avenue, Albany.
Local law enforcement authorities have confirmed that they are investigating Hollis’ death as a potential hate crime.
Robyn Osberry, Hollis’ mother, said: “The person that’s responsible has no idea what they took from us… I absolutely want to see that justice is served.”
This outbreak of violence against transgender people, particularly Black trans women, must stop.
Following the tragic news, Tori Cooper of the Human Rights Campaign said 2021 is on course to break the record for the highest number of trans or gender non-conforming people violently killed in a single year.
“We’re less than half way through the year and we’re already on track to break 2020’s devastating record for incidents of fatal violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people,” Cooper said.
“This outbreak of violence against transgender people, particularly Black trans women, must stop.”
Police have urged anybody with information on Hollis’ death to contact the Albany Police Department at 229 431-2100, or they can call Crime Stoppers on 229 436-TIPS.
The Human Rights Campaign recorded 44 deaths of trans and gender non-conforming people in 2020, the highest number ever in a single year.
It is thought that up to three quarters of trans people killed in violent circumstances are subsequently misgendered by the media and law enforcement authorities.
