Lives on the Line: Addressing Violence Against Black Transgender Women

Identifying influential characteristics, contexts and cultural norms.

In conversations about social justice and equality, some of the most urgent and devastating issues remain under-discussed—among them, the epidemic of violence against Black transgender women. This is concerning given this community faces disproportionate rates of physical violence, discrimination, and systemic neglect.

The statistics are harrowing: 56% of Black transgender women experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, 65% of transgender gun homicide victims were Black trans women, and nearly 75% of identified perpetrators in fatal attacks against Black trans women were Black cisgender men- with whom the victims often had a relationship with. Understanding the roots of this violence involves delving into a complex web of societal factors, including entrenched racism, transphobia, and misogyny, which often manifest in harmful stereotypes and prejudices. Furthermore, systemic neglect from institutions that are supposed to protect and serve- such as law enforcement and healthcare- exacerbates their vulnerability. To effectively address these issues, it is crucial to amplify the voices of those most affected—Black transgender women themselves.

This episode features Pamuela Halliwell (she/her), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in working with transgender, non-binary and gender non-confirming individuals, unhoused and transitional age youth (TAY) active duty and retired military members, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities for over a decade. She earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Argosy University. Ms. Halliwell has served as the President of the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition, member of The Gender Phluid Collective, and a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist. She is also a former CASA, court appointed special advocate, for foster youth. She currently sits on the following boards: Sheriff’s LGBTQ Advisory Council, LGBTQ+ Survivors Taskforce, Transgender Community Advisory Board (TCAB), and the Tran©ending HIV Syndemic Collective (aka Transgender Health Project).

To learn more about Ms. Pamuela Halliwell, click here.

More works by Pamuela Halliwell:

• Characterizing the Prevalence and Perpetrators of Documented Fatal Violence Against Black Transgender Women in the United States (2013–2021)

• The Psychological & Emotional effects of discrimination within the LGBTQ, Transgender, & Non-binary communities

• The dying Black Transgender woman: Sight unseen #saytheirnames

• The Word San Diego

• Transgender Therapy.org

• Grieving Still: Finding the Other side (Book)

• Grieving Still: Garden of Hope (Book)

THIS EPISODE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 10

Season 2 Episode 23

Running Time:  32 minutes