Gun violence is a rising issue in Georgia in particular, and for Black Georgians most of all. As reported by Everytown for Gun Safety, the rate of gun deaths in Georgia has increased by 59% over the last decade, compared to a 39% increase nationwide, and gun homicide increased 101% (versus 73% nationwide). Black people accounted for 76% of all gun homicide victims in the state in 2021, with Black people seven times more likely than white people to die of gun homicide.

At the state level, transgender and gender non-conforming people in Georgia are not explicitly protected from discrimination in employment, housing, education and public spaces. Though we have recently seen some political gains that support and affirm transgender people, we have also faced unprecedented and ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ attacks in the states–and in Georgia in particular, where we have seen over 20 anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed in the current state legislative session alone.

We must demand better from our elected officials and reject harmful anti-transgender legislation at the local, state and federal levels, while also considering every possible way to make ending this violence a reality. The intersections of racism, transphobia, sexism, biphobia and homophobia conspire to deprive transgender people of the necessities to live and thrive, so we must all work together to cultivate acceptance, reject hate, and end stigma for everyone in the trans and gender non-conforming community.

Any information that can lead to Jaylen Hill’s arrest can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online at crimestoppersatlanta.org, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIME (274637). Det. R. Graham is the lead Investigator in this case. His phone number is 404-270-7069.