Monique Brooks’ sibling Lecia described her as fun-loving and smart. Others remember Monique as an amazing hair stylist. Every year on her birthday, Monique centered causes that people should support, including for LGBTQ+ rights.
On Friday, July 19, 2024, Monique, a 49-year-old Black transgender woman, was found shot in Orlando, Florida near the Florida Mall. She later died after being transported to the hospital, according to Orange County deputies. Little else about this tragic incident is known at this time. Monique’s death marks at least the 22nd violent killing of a transgender or gender expansive person in 2024 and the third in the state of Florida, making that state the most deadly so far this year for transgender or gender expansive people.
Speaking to Fox35 (in an article which identified Monique as Jade Monique Thomas), Monique’s sibling, Lecia Paul, described her as someone who was “unafraid and lived her life ‘out loud.’” Paul also asked for help from the public in learning more about the circumstances of her death, noting “(She) did not deserve this…If anybody knows anything or has seen anything or hears anything you can be anonymous. We just want to know. We want justice for (her).” Those with any information related to the murder of Monique Brooks are encouraged to contact Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).
Monique was actively involved with Divas in Dialogue, an Orlando based sisterhood that empowers and supports transgender women of color, who is currently raising money to pay for funeral expenses and support her family. A celebration of Monique’s life is currently planned for August 2nd (note that this announcement also uses Monique’s dead name).
We’ve lost yet another Black trans woman to gun violence. Monique was a gem of a person who should be with us today. We call on Orange County to exhaust all possible means in securing justice for Monique. As a community, we grieve Monique and know that her bright spirit will live on through her loved ones.”
Tori Cooper, Director of Community Engagement for HRC Foundation’s Transgender Justice Initiative
Monique was one of the sweetest souls I’ve ever known. She has always been the life of the party and willing to help anyone in need. She will be truly missed. Her kindness and outgoing spirit will never be forgotten.”
Mulan Montrese Williams, Executive Director Of Divas in Dialogue
Gun violence disproportionately impacts the transgender community: To date, almost 6 in 10 of all victims of fatal violence in 2024 were killed with a gun, including Monique. Tragically, her death ocurred less than three weeks after the deaths of Shannon Boswell in Atlanta, Georgia, and Kenji Spurgeon in Seattle, Washington, both of whom were Black trans women who were killed with a gun. Nationally, more than 25,000 hate crimes in the U.S. involve a firearm each year, which equates to almost 70 cases a day, according to a 2023 report from Everytown for Gun Safety in partnership with HRC and The Equality Federation Support Fund, “Remembering and Honoring Pulse: Anti-LGBTQ Bias and Guns Are Taking Lives of Countless LGBTQ People.” The report also notes a marked increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, especially against transgender people. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, the FBI recorded a record-high number of hate crimes related to gender identity, including a 33% jump in hate crimes on the basis of gender identity from the year before.
At the state level, transgender and gender non-conforming people in Florida are explicitly protected from discrimination in employment, housing, education and public spaces; however, Florida does have multiple anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-transgender laws on its books, and Florida does not include gender identity as a protected characteristic in its hate crimes law. Though we have recently seen some political gains that support and affirm transgender people, we have also faced unprecedented anti-LGBTQ+ attacks in the states. In June 2023, the Human Rights Campaign declared a National State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans, as a result of the more than 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced into state houses that year, over 80 of which were signed into law—more than in any other year. As of this writing, over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced into state houses since the beginning of 2024, with more than 30 bills passing to-date.
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. It is clear that fatal violence disproportionately affects transgender women of color, especially Black transgender women. The intersections of racism, transphobia, sexism, biphobia and homophobia conspire to deprive them of 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-expansive community.
More resources:
- Learn more about the fatal violence cases that HRC is tracking where details are unclear. You may find a list of these cases here.
- Join HRC’s CountMeIn campaign to take action for transgender and non-binary people.
- Read these guidelines and this FAQ for journalists to ensure greater accuracy and respect in reporting.
- Learn about how transgender and non-binary people are combating transphobia, stigma and anti-trans violence through our Celebrating Changemakers series.
