Lives on the Line: Addressing Violence Against Black Transgender Women

The importance of justice, visibility, and safety for every Black Trans Woman

In conversations about social justice and equality, some urgent issues remain under-discussed. Among them is the epidemic of violence against Black transgender women. This situation is concerning. This community faces disproportionate rates of physical violence, discrimination, and systemic neglect. The statistics are alarming. Fifty-six percent of Black transgender women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Sixty-five percent of transgender gun homicide victims are Black trans women. Nearly seventy-five percent of identified perpetrators in fatal attacks against Black trans women are Black cisgender men, often in relationships with the victims. Understanding the roots of this violence requires delving into a complex web of societal factors. These include entrenched racism, transphobia, and misogyny, which manifest in harmful stereotypes and prejudices.

This episode features Ms. Pamuela Halliwell (she/her), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has specialized in working with transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals for over a decade. Her experience also includes supporting unhoused and transitional age youth (TAY), active duty and retired military members, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities.

Ms. Halliwell earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Argosy University. She has served as the President of the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition and is a member of The Gender Phluid Collective. Additionally, she is part of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Ms. Halliwell is also a former CASA (court-appointed special advocate) for foster youth. Currently, she sits on several boards, including the Sheriff’s LGBTQ Advisory Council and the LGBTQ+ Survivors Taskforce.

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

• 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

• Therapy.org

• Grieving Still: Finding the Other Side (Book)

• Grieving Still: Garden of Hope (Book)

  
  

Season 2 Episode 23

Running Time:  32 minutes