Current:Home > NewsMother tells killer of Black transgender woman that her daughter’s legacy will live on-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Mother tells killer of Black transgender woman that her daughter’s legacy will live on
View Date:2024-12-25 13:42:50
DALLAS (AP) — The mother of a Black transgender woman who was fatally shot in Dallas in 2019 on Thursday tearfully insisted to the man who pleaded guilty in the slaying that she will continue the advocacy work that her 22-year-year-old daughter started.
“Her body might not be here but her spirit lives in her legacy here, and I’m going to keep my baby’s name alive,” Stephanie Houston, the mother of Muhlaysia Booker, said in her victim impact statement in court.
Kendrell Lyles, 37, pleaded guilty to murder Monday as jury selection was set to begin, and was sentenced to 48 years in prison. Authorities haven’t revealed Lyles’ motive for killing Booker, and Lyles’ attorney has said he doesn’t know why he did it.
About a month before Booker was killed, she was beaten by several men in an unrelated attack as a crowd gathered after a minor traffic accident. The attack was caught on cellphone video and shared widely on social media. Booker, who was hospitalized, told police that the people who attacked her used homophobic slurs.
The violence that befell Booker in her short life exemplifies threats faced by transgender people, and especially Black transgender women, across the U.S. She was shaken but resolute when she spoke at a rally held after the attack, telling supporters: “This time, I can stand before you, whereas in other scenarios, we are at a memorial.”
Booker’s friend, Jordan Ford, said in court Thursday that the assault didn’t break her spirit, instead it inspired her to speak out.
“Muhlaysia took it upon herself to raise awareness about the hate and violence that transgender individuals face every day,” Ford said. “She refused to be silenced by adversity and her unwavering determination inspired many.”
Ford said Booker not only took the time to mentor younger LGBTQ+ people but also would go live on social media to let them know “it’s OK to be true to who you are.”
Booker’s body was found the morning of May 18, 2019, on a Dallas street. Police said they identified Lyles as the suspect while investigating the deaths of a man and woman who were killed in separate shootings in the days after Booker’s slaying. Lyles was also charged in the deaths of those two victims, according to police. The other two victims were not transgender.
Booker got into a vehicle matching the description of one Lyles drove about three hours before her body was found, an arrest warrant said. A witness told investigators that Lyles frequented the area to meet with transgender sex workers, according to the warrant.
Houston told Lyles that she had warned her daughter about people like him.
“I warned my baby about the devil and that day she got in the car with the devil,” said Houston, adding that her daughter was shot three times and thrown out of the car “like she was trash.”
“You just looked at her like a transgender prostitute but she was more than that,” said Houston, who started the Muhlaysia Booker Foundation to support transgender people after her daughter’s death.
Texas is among states where transgender people have been targeted with a growing number of laws and policies, including restrictions on gender-affirming care, public bathroom use and participation in sports.
Since 2013, the Human Rights Campaign’s public education and research team has identified at least 334 transgender and gender-nonconforming people killed by violence across the U.S. Of those, 75% have been transgender women of color and almost 62% have been Black transgender women. And, HRC said, almost 10% of those killings happened in Texas — more than any other state.
veryGood! (92)
Related
- Inter Miami's MLS playoff failure sets stage for Messi's last act, Alexi Lalas says
- She missed out on 'Mean Girls' 20 years ago — but Busy Philipps got a second chance
- Louisiana murder suspect pepper sprays deputy, steals patrol car in brazen escape
- Kristin Cavallari Debuts New Romance With Mark Estes
- Former Disney Star Skai Jackson Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby With Her Boyfriend
- San Francisco is ready to apologize to Black residents. Reparations advocates want more
- Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and other Chiefs players party again in Las Vegas
- See Who Will Play the Jackson 5 in Michael Jackson Biopic
- Jennifer Garner and Boyfriend John Miller Are All Smiles In Rare Public Outing
- Doctor dies of allergic reaction after asking if meal at Disney restaurant was allergen free: Lawsuit
Ranking
- Georgia House Republicans stick with leadership team for the next two years
- Kristin Cavallari Debuts New Romance With Mark Estes
- Hazmat units respond after Donald Trump Jr. receives envelope with white powdery substance
- Will there be a government shutdown? Lawmakers see path forward after meeting with Biden
- Eva Longoria calls US 'dystopian' under Trump, has moved with husband and son
- Jay Bilas floats huge punishment for fans who storm court after Duke-Wake Forest incident
- Trying To Protect Access To IVF
- Why Macy's is closing 150 department stores
Recommendation
-
GM recalls 460k cars for rear wheel lock-up: Affected models include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac
-
Georgia will spend $392 million to overhaul its gold-domed capitol and build new legislative offices
-
Reviewers Can't Stop Buying These 18 Products From Amazon Because They're So Darn Genius
-
Starbucks and Workers United, long at odds, say they’ll restart labor talks
-
Veterans face challenges starting small businesses but there are plenty of resources to help
-
Starbucks and Workers United, long at odds, say they’ll restart labor talks
-
New footage shows moments after shooter opens fire at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church
-
Ole Anderson, founding member of the pro wrestling team known as The Four Horsemen, has died