Black transgender woman repeatedly deadnamed after fatal hit-and-run

A Black transgender woman was killed in a hit-and-run incident on Wednesday in New York State.

News outlets, citing information shared by the Rochester Police Department last Friday morning, repeatedly misgendered and deadnamed the victim.

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A press release from Blaque/Out Magazine, reported by the Advocate, identified the dead woman as 37-year-old Honee Walker.

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Police say the victim was walking on Lyle Avenue in Rochester when a vehicle heading westbound struck her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver fled but was located by officers on Thursday, according to Capt. Greg Bello of the Rochester Police. An arrest has not been announced.

Following news reports that misgendered and deadnamed Walker, Walker’s family gave her name to media outlets. But the incorrect information remains in print and online in different forms.

A story in the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester still deadnames the victim. A report from WHAM News in the city corrected Walker’s first name but continues to use her last deadname. Both stories have dropped pronouns from their reporting entirely.

In their statement, Blaque/Out Magazine called the errors, “whether purposeful or in ignorance,” signs of disrespect for the trans and broader gay community.

“Although several stations have posted updates to the story, the accepted media practice would be to correct the original misreported piece in print if possible and digitally everywhere it originally appeared,” the magazine’s press release stated. “This isn’t just new information, it is considered disrespectful and a documented form of transphobia, transmisia [anti-trans hatred], prejudice and oppression visited upon the LGBTQIA+ but specifically the Trans community.”

“Despite the fact that your original reporting information was likely provided by [the Rochester Police Department], organizations nationwide track the disproportionate rate of deaths of Trans community members, specifically Black Trans women and those numbers are deeply skewed when the media misreports the accurate identity of the individual. These errors whether purposeful or in ignorance can even lead to delayed justice for families and victims,” the statement continued.

At least 27 transgender and gender-expansive people have died by violence so far in 2024, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Approximately 48% were Black transgender women. Of the total number, 37% were misgendered or deadnamed by authorities or the press.

A memorial will be held by Walker’s family on October 18 in Rochester’s Seneca Park.

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