Mercedes Successful
Age 3215 May 2016
Haines City, Florida (USA)
Shot
TDoR list ref: tgeu/15-May-2016/Mercedes Successful

Mercedes was found shot to death in a parking lot. She was well known and active in the drag and pageant communities in Haines City.
Several local media reports on Successful’s death misgendered the victim, identifying her with male pronouns and a masculine name. A follow-up report published Tuesday by Lakeland newspaper The Ledger includes quotes from Successful’s friends confirming that she had recently begun a clinical transition to live full-time as her authentic self, but the article wholly avoids pronouns and uses the late performer’s given name to identify her throughout. In addition to needlessly noting that Successful was “not dressed like a woman when found,” the Ledger article indicates that police are not currently investigating the murder as a hate crime.
TvT project: The Advocate & News Chief, 19.05.2016