Remembering Brandy Martell, the Transgender Woman Killed in Oakland

[Starry Messenger]

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2012/05/brandy_martell_transgender_woman_killed_oakland.php

On April 29 at 5:30 a.m., a beautiful young woman was gunned down on a street in Oakland. (See our post about the crime that ran the next day on The Snitch.) On the corner of 13th and Franklin is where Brandy Martell's short life came to a horrifc end. A lot remains unknown, but below is what I've gathered from witnesses and people who knew Brandy.

This part of Oakland is a cab stand. It is also a hangout for transgender people; Brandy was there in her car with three other transgender women. Around 3:30 a.m., a couple of gentlemen walked by them. Judging by their clothes, they'd been at a nightclub. They made catcalls and aggressively hit on the women; one was very interested in Brandy, repeating how fine she was. The men wanted the women to come with them, but the women realized that the men did not "know what their T is" -- "T," or truth, is slang for a woman who is trans.

The ladies then asked, "You know we're trans, right?" When they gave them the information, the pick-up ended. The men went up around a bookstore toward 14th Street. Around 5:30 a.m., the men returned, and the women were still in the car. One man opened fire on Brandy Martell, killing her.

Brandy Martell loved people. She worked for Tri-City Health Center as a peer advocate. She was a woman in every way. As I spend more time in the trans community, I realize we are born who we are, but the genitalia attached to us is another matter entirely. When I moved to San Francisco and I started to write about the sex-positive community, a theme became apparent. Trans people have it really fucking hard. Harder than most, and they pay a very high price for simply being who they are. Trans people are still asked to sit at the back of the bus, as it were. People can be deeply afraid of what they don't understand, and unfortunately a lot of people simply do not understand that genitals are not what makes us human.

I wish I could post more than four paragraphs, if you get a chance please read more at the link.

[Catherina]

1. RIP Brandy

I was just going to post this. It's intolerable that a woman can be gunned down like this in 2012.

On April 28th, Brandy Martell was shot to death on the corner of 13th and Franklin. Brandy was a black transwoman – the murderer, a transphobic man. A member of the Oakland Commune who was nearby rushed to Brandi's assistance. Using training received form the People's Community Medics, he provided emergency first aid for Brandy, holding her bullet wounds and administering CPR. The police didn't show up for 25 minutes, emergency services for 45. For 45 minutes, our comrade tried to keep Brandy alive while the police stood by, offering no assistance. The police inaction should come as no surprise to anyone who has interacted with the racist, homophobic, murderous OPD.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/05/06/18713045.php

RIP dear Brandy

[Starry Messenger]

7. I think these murders are political assassinations too.

It's not enough that a man has had his honor impugned by being "tricked" into finding a trans woman desirable, there is a need to teach her and all of her friends the lesson--you only exist if I let you.

[Catherina]

8. This ^ and seriously this

"you only exist if I let you"

[maddezmom]

2. horrifying

"People can be deeply afraid of what they don't understand, and unfortunately a lot of people simply do not understand that genitals are not what makes us human."

[DURHAM D]

3. Thanks for posting.

Excellent article. Brandy's story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

I will spend a little time thinking about the fact her family buried her with her given name. I understand but it is upsetting. I am not sure I have the right to be upset so I will have a few quiet conversations with my T friends.

RIP Brandy

[maddezmom]

4. I understand why you're upset

they never accepted her for who she was.

[DURHAM D]

5. True

but it also raises all sorts of questions about how they can protect themselves in the likely event their family will be making the decisions.

I have just left a message for a friend to meet for dinner this week. She is 30 and I am fairly certain she has not given this any thought. I know her family and I know what they would do and it would not be what she would want.

[maddezmom]

6. of course you are correct

and I'm embarrassed to admit, I hadn't even thought about it before you brought it up. And I'm sure I'm not the only straight, white female....once again it's about privilege in a way.