Vigil for trans woman Tiffany Harris
Memorial held by local politicians, Destination Tomorrow and community
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BY JASON COHEN
In July, Tiffany “Dior”
Harris, a black transgender
woman, was brutally killed in
her Jerome Avenue apartment.
On Aug. 7, Councilwoman
Vanessa Gibson, Councilman
Ritchie Torres, Senator
Gustavo Rivera, Destination
Tomorrow and community
members held a vigil for Harris
and called for a ban for Walking
While Trans and stressed
that Black trans lives matter.
According to the Human
Rights Commission, in 2020, 25
Black transgender women have
been killed this year. Since
HRC began tracking this data
in 2013, advocates have never
seen such a high number at
this point in the year.
In 2018, there was a 120 percent
increase in arrests, with
47 percent of all arrests across
New York State happening in
Queens. According to the New
York State Division of Criminal
Justice Services, in 2018, 91
percent of people arrested under
the statute were Black and
Latinx people and 80 percent
identifi ed as women.
“While I’m overjoyed to be
with family, I’m saddened at the
occasion,” said Sean Coleman,
executive director of Destination
Tomorrow, a grassroots
agency in the south Bronx that
provides services to and for the
LGBTQ community. “Today
we gather to celebrate the life
of Tiffany Harris.”
Coleman was quite emotional
when speaking. He said
that he is getting tired of seeing
people under these sad circumstances.
He stressed that
the city must provide safe, affordable
housing for transgender
people, must create an equity
inclusion task force and
of course, repeal the Walking
While Trans ban.
Gibson, who is the cochair
of the Women’s Caucus,
has been a staunch supporter
for Black transgender rights
and repealing Walking While
Trans.
The councilwoman said
people should not be killed for
how they look, their skin color
or ethnicity.
“It’s really painful to stand
here as I think about our sister
Tiffany Harris,” Gibson stated.
“We cannot say all lives matter
until Black trans lives matter.
Tiffany Harris, say her name.”
Torres, an openly gay elected
offi cial, shared Gibson’s sentiments.
The councilman noted
that often the violence against
these transgender women is by
men they are dating.
Torres questioned why
these men can’t realize they
are attracted to trans women,
he said. Furthermore, many
trans women don’t report their
attacks because they feel the
police won’t do anything.
“Tiffany Harris’ life was cut
short by hate and fear,” he exclaimed.
“The savage stabbing
of Tiffany wasn’t an isolated
event. Society has failed Tiffany
Harris.”
Activist and transgender
woman Octavia Lewis spoke
about Harris and the violence
against transgender Black
women.
Lewis told the attendees she
is frustrated that she is still
looked at because she is transgender.
People need to treat
each other better.
“Our lives should not be
about struggle,” Lewis said. “I
am tired of existing. I deserve
to live. I am telling all of you,
you are worthy of love. You are
somebody
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson speaks at the vigil for Tiffany Harris. Photo by Jason Cohen