Akira Tajah Jackson (pictured), a 24-year-old Bay Area trans youth leader at Transgender Ladies Initiating Sisterhood, is suspected of killing on-and-off boyfriend Alan Gray, who was stabbed with a large kitchen knife Thursday morning. Gray, who met Jackson while she was working as a dancer at Diva’s in San Francisco, called 911 to say Jackson assaulted him; prosecutors are calling the attack a domestic dispute. Gray was pronounced dead at the hospital after stab wounds wounds were found in his chest, though I’m still unclear why either CBS News or the San Francisco Chronicle found Jackson’s trans identity material to the story.
JAW
There are times when knowing the person is Trans is important. Case in point when President Obama appointed the first Trans person to his administration or when the first trans person was selected to be the current Mr. International Leather…
There are also times when a trans person gets into trouble
On Nov 30 here in Philly a “Trans” person murdered a man in his hotel room. The story on epgn.com would almost be funny if it were not so sad. The Philadelphia Gay news (www.epgn.com) tries to hide everything about the alleged murderer. The headline call him a “sex worker”. The PGN tries to downplay anything about the guy.
The Philadelphia Inquirer (philly.com) gives a more straight forward story. They say that he was Trans because he was seen in the hotel dressed as a woman, and again when arrested.
2 murders that were allegedly committed by Trans people in one week is news worthy. I have also heard the terms “trans” and “trannie” to mean: Transexual, Transitioning and Transvestite. so it covers a lot of ground.
Tori
@JAW: What was the point of this comment?
JAW
@Tori: @Tori:
Tori… I guess the point I was trying to make is that we want it both ways. When someone Gay, Lesbian, Tran etc. is a victim it is important to the story. Yet when we do something wrong, it is not.
There are stories all over Queerty, and other gay news sources, where the person is identified by their sexual identity, but pretty much only when the person has been a victim, or done something good.
I used the article from the Philly Gay News to try and show a sugar coated story. Those of us here in Philly need to be aware that the hookers walking the streets in the gayborhood might not be who/what they appear to be.
The SF story does not tell us the whole story about the murder, so I’m not sure if the boyfriend knew that she had transitioned, or if he mentioned it in the 911 call or???
Megan
Alan Gray will be sorely missed. He was a great friend and also a beautiful spirit. His peaceful nature and kind demeanour will not be forgotten. Rest in peace, dear Alan.