Diamond Williams
Age 3113 Jul 2013
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)
Stabbed and dismembered
TDoR list ref: tgeu/13-Jul-2013/Diamond Williams
Diamond was stabbed by Charles Sargent, 43. He then dismembered her and dumped her body parts in a vacant lot in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia.
Sargent was convicted of her murder in March 2018 and jailed for life.
Friends and family of Diamond Williams, a transgender woman in the Strawberry Mansion area of Philadelphia, gathered last night at Love Park for a Vigil and Speak Out held in her honor.
According to GLAAD, speakers at the event included: Christian Axvaier Lovehall of Philly Trans March, Samantha Jo Dato of Mazzoni Center’s Trans Wellness Project, Aamina Morrison, Co-director of Trans-health Information Program (TIP), Sade Ali of Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, and Gloria Casarez, Director of LGBT Affairs at the Mayor’s Office, among others.
Rachel Rose remembers Diamond Williams as a person with a big personality and an even bigger heart.
"She was so full of life. She was funny and we used to laugh. And I remember just acting silly with her and I just miss her because we had a lot of great times," Rose said.
“She was a very loving, caring, and creative person. We were family. We were like sisters and she loved her sisters. No one should ever have to die the way she died.”
Following Williams’ murder last week, media coverage of the crime generated an immense backlash among activists and members of the queer community. The repeated misgendering of Williams and perceived victim-blaming by numerous news outlets sent familiar shockwaves through these communities, as well as initiated a formal response by GLAAD.
In light of these facts, GALAEI Executive Director Elicia Gonzales released this statement surrounding last night’s vigil: “We are sad and outraged — saddened at the loss of yet another transwoman in Philadelphia, and outraged by the insensitive, inaccurate, and transphobic reporting by local police and media. Tonight we unite to honor the life of Diamond and to demand justice and respect for all members of our brave and resilient community.”
TvT project: Huffington Post 24.07.2013 & Philly Com 25.07.2013 & Philadelphia Gay News 29.07.2013 & NBC Philadelphia 23.07.2013
https://transgriot.blogspot.com/2013/07/transgriot-diamond-williams-philly.html
https://www.glaad.org/blog/update-diamond-williams-transgender-woman-murdered-philadelphia
http://www.epgn.com/news/local/13131-gruesome-details-dominate-trans-murder-trial
