Date: Sun, 01 Mar 1998 18:26:39 +0000 From: Clare Howell Subject: IYF MEDIA ADVISORY -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, (718) 638-7062 clareq@gpac.org .TRANSEXUAL WOMAN MURDERED IN NEW JERSEY .'TOPS' PROTESTS TRANS-MURDER IN TAMPA TRANSEXUAL WOMAN MURDERED IN NEW JERSEY ======================================= [Jersey City, NJ: 28 Feb 98] TRANSEXUAL WOMAN Vianna Faye Williams was murdered on or about 27 Dec 97. She died of nine stab wounds to her back, neck, and chest. "We believe Williams was dead at least two days prior to being found," said Chief Robert Martin of the Hudson County prosecutor's office. Williams, a 36 year-old Jamaica native, was two weeks from her appointment for sexual reassignment surgery. A minor whose name is being withheld was arrested as a suspect approximately a week after the killing. Williams had obtained a restraining order against an unidentified person, but police would not confirm if the individual being held is the person named in that order. The suspect was arrested when he tried to pawn goods that were taken from the victim's apartment. Friends said that Ms. Williams, also known as Felicia, had worked as a police officer and a nurse in Jamaica. Since coming to the U.S. she had worked in a bank and as a professional dancer in Manhattan. She had also worked as a prostitute after she lost her job in the bank. Neighbors of Williams expressed shock and dismay upon hearing of her murder. Said the owner of a hair salon nearby, "I can't believe somebody would do that to her. Nobody deserves that." ### Contact: Tonye Barreto-Neto, (813) 752-9226 TBHawk@aol.com 'TOPS' PROTESTS TRANS-MURDER IN TAMPA =================================== [Tampa, FL: 22 Feb 98] LED BY TRANSGENDER Officers Protect and Serve (TOPS), a dozen people turned out at Tampa City Hall Sunday to call attention to the murder of transexual Tasha Dunn who was found beaten to death on Valentine's Day. Protestors wore black arm bands to mark Dunn's death and carried signs urging members of the public to come forward with information about the murder. To date, police have little to go on in their investigation. "We have no idea what the motive is for this crime," said Tampa Police Detective Jerry Clark, who attended Sunday's gathering. "Obviously, we share the same goal--to find the killer." Dunn, who had a long history of arrests for drugs and prostitution, had no fixed address. Her fate reflects the condition of many transgender people who have few resources and are forced onto the streets and into sex work to support themselves. Tonye Barreto-Neto, founder of TOPS, who led the protest, cited GenderPAC's first national survey of violence against transgendered people which reveals that 60% of all trans-identified people have been the victims of physical assault. "Transgender people are not disposable," he said. "We must take a stand against the horrific violence we face." ### Subscriptions. Please send: subscribe iyf-online or: unsubcribe iyf-online to: MajorDomo@apocalypse.org For prior press releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1996 InYourFace Our online news-only service for gender activism. When reposting please credit InYourFace.