Why Are We Still Silent About Duanna Johnson?
By Tanya Paperny - Nov 20th, 2008 at 3:39 pmWith yesterday’s news that the California Supreme Court has agreed to settle the question over the legality of Proposition 8, a major incident in the LGBT community has been overlooked: the tragic death of yet another member of the transgender community.
Many will remember Duanna Johnson from the awful videos that surfaced online of Memphis police officers inside a police station brutally beating her as they called her a “he-she” and a “faggot.” The video showed other officers completely ignoring the violence as Johnson pleaded for help.
Johnson, a black transgender female, was courageous after the incident, speaking to the media about the violence inflicted upon her, which led to the eventual firing of the officers involved. However, her bravery came at a great cost.
Less than two weeks ago, Duanna was found dead on the streets of Memphis, shot to death.
Meanwhile, as the queer community took center stage last weekend with a nationwide day of coordinated protests against Prop 8, I heard almost no mention of Duanna. Some have found themselves forced to ask, “Can the LGBT community spare some outrage for Duanna Johnson?”
Bilerico Project blogger Rebecca Juro argues that “it took the actual stripping of already existent marriage rights from gay and lesbian Californians to finally mobilize our community to loudly and proudly fight for our rights in significant numbers nationwide.”
Indeed, there is no other time in recent memory when the LGBT community nationwide has been so mobilized, visible, and outraged. But is marriage the only issue that should be uniting the community? Why is no one talking about Transgender Day of Remembrance or Duanna Johnson?
Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. Check out the site for statistics and listings of observances taking place as well as other ways to get involved.
First of all: Tanya, thank you for this.
Second of all: I am torn with what you’re trying to say, here.
Duanna’s story is infuriating and tragic (I’m still shaking from the video after already hearing the story) and I wish I could say a novel case of hate crime committed by supposed “upholders of the peace.” When I think “diversity and tolerance” Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas and Mississippi (Nina Simone would attest to that last one) usually hit the bottom of my list. Truth is, these stories must be brought to the public’s attention - and not just the LGBT community - if we’re ever to see progress being made to prevent future incidents like this.
On the other hand - and this may just be my interpretation of the tone in your post, so sorry if I’m being presumptuous (I got problems with that, sometimes) - I think it is an unfair and even somewhat masochistic notion to insist that LGBT and allied activists aren’t doing enough in the fight against intolerance simply because they haven’t spent time bringing Duanna’s case to the media; or that by not doing so, they’re somehow ignoring/taking away her tragedy’s relevance. This is not to say that there aren’t more secularized activists out there…which is just weird.
It’s hard not to be completely overwhelmed with all the bullsh•t acts of hate and violence that plague the LGBT community today. And while Duanna should certainly not be thought of as just “another victim” of said hate, it’s important to remember that any push in the right direction is a push towards remembering and defending Doanna Johnson and all of the unsung or less well-known victims of hate. If we can overturn this marriage ban *NOW*, then that’s what we should be focusing on; as it will serve as one less excuse that people who beat and murdered Ms. Johnson can use to validate their own fear and misguided ethics.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:00 pmi found this column to be very simple and touching…i’m glad it was published in memphis’ main newspaper:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/nov/16/essence-of-person-can-belie-03/
November 21st, 2008 at 11:12 amThanks Katie. I appreciate that the article distinguished between sexual orientation and gender identity.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pmSeeing articles like that really ease some of the angst, thank you. Agree with Tanya; very sympathetic (and surprisingly comprehensive) tone…surprised and pleased that it made the main newspaper.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:37 pm