On July 13, a transgender woman was brutally murdered in North Philadelphia. The following week, her alleged murderer was captured and, days later, the LGBT community game together to mourn.
And now, the LGBT community is ready to keep up the fight for justice for Diamond Williams.
Williams, 31, was a former member of The Attic Youth Center who aspired to be a nurse.
On July 20, Charles Sargent, 43, was charged with her murder.
Authorities say Sargent allegedly stabbed Williams in his Strawberry Mansion home and then dismembered her body, dumping her remains in a vacant field at York and Sedgley streets. It has been reported that the two had a sexual relationship, but police have continued to decline comment on the nature of their relationship to PGN.
Police did not respond to multiple requests by PGN for additional information on the investigation.
On July 23, the LGBT and ally community gathered at Love Park to both mourn the loss of a friend and call for justice for her, as well as for other local transgender women who were murdered, including Kyra Cordova last year, Stacey Blahnik in 2010 and Nizah Morris in 2002.
For various community leaders, Williams’ murder opens up old wounds, but it has also motivated some to work to correct the rights that were wronged.
For Gloria Casarez, the city’s director of LGBT affairs, one wrong came from local media outlets that originally reported Williams’ gender identity as male instead of female.
“There has been a mix of feelings,” Casarez said. “Initially, the media coverage was disappointing and didn’t respect or reflect her gender identity, so initially folks were shocked, insulted and angry when her life wasn’t reflected accurately. Now I think there is a changing tide; subsequent coverage has been reflective and accurate.”
Casarez did note that the community response felt different this time, as the alleged killer has been caught, but that it has reinvigorated the push for justice for other victims.
“It is the first case in long time where we actually have the suspect arrested, so it is very different than Nizah or Kyra or Stacey,” she said. “Of course whenever something like this happens, we think about the other cases, not just murder but the violence in our communities. It kicks up things for folks whether you knew that person or not.”
Samantha Jo Dato, peer outreach worker for Mazzoni Center’s Trans* Wellness Project, attended a self-help class with Williams last October at the Morris Home. Dato said it was important to make sure that people are made aware of the transgender community.
“Diamond is a part of a long list of victims in Philly who are trans who have been attacked, murdered or brutally killed, so what we are trying to do is make people aware that trans people exist and get them out of danger’s way,” Dato said.
The Trans* Wellness Project and Mazzoni’s Sisterly Love Project had a planned meeting Aug. 1 to discuss a collaboration to keep the focus on Williams’ case.
Topics of safety within both the trans community and sex-work industry have been at the forefront of conversations among the community in the past few weeks.
But, said Elicia Gonzales, executive director of GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization, neither community should be open to the victim-blaming that she’s seen.
“I think it’s a matter of holding the people who perpetrate and murder trans people accountable and sending a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated,” she said. “Stop pointing the finger at those who are hurt. People are just trying to survive.”
Casarez agreed, noting that the LGBT and ally community should continue to keep lines of communication open with loved ones and friends.
“Sometimes people are forced to live in dangerous situations and are in dangerous situations, so I definitely think having friends you are checking in with regularly is a good thing,” she said.
Police Public Affairs commanding officer Lt. John Stanford said the case is not being investigated as a hate crime. The District Attorney’s Office did not respond to whether it will track this as a hate crime.
Casarez, however, contended Williams’ murder was clearly brought from hate.
“In initial media reports, we heard that [Sargent] tried to use the ‘she tricked me’ defense and that has been used for decades and sometimes can be successful. The reality is that she was killed because she was transgender, so I think we will have to follow this case. I have full confidence that the DA will follow this aggressively.”
Sargent is currently being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility and will face a preliminary hearing Aug. 7.
With Sargent caught, the community has now turned its attention to keeping Williams’ legacy alive. Gonzales said keeping the conversation going about anti-trans violence is one way.
“I think in doing some of the work that we have been doing and trying to do for a long time is a step in the right direction,” she said. “The fact that the community rallied together so quickly and bonded over this means that we have to have ongoing conversations about how to right a system that continues to be wrong in many ways.”
Trans activist and co-founder of the Philly Trans* March Christian Lovehall spoke at the vigil that was held for Williams.
Lovehall said it was important to keep Williams’ story fresh and to continue the fight for equality for all.
“I think it’s all about acknowledging what happened to her and that she was a person. She was a friend, a sister, a loved one, and knowing that her flaws did not epitomize her personality. Although it’s sad to have to add more and more names to the [Transgender Day of Remembrance] list every year, we must speak her name as a community. We also can keep Diamond’s legacy alive by remaining resilient in the fight towards freedom as a community.”
Casarez said William’s murder can push the investigations in the other murders forward.
“This draws attention to these other cases. We want to get resolutions for Kyra’s family. Kyra was active in the community and with her family. They loved her and supported her and respected her gender identity and they are hurting and it’s the same with Stacey’s family,” Casarez said, noting that Blahnik’s mother periodically emails her to catch up on the investigation. “We need to make sure families are briefed on status of investigations. I believe there are witnesses that have seen things. We need everyone engaged and even the rumors are important for us to get and follow up on. There is a role for everyone.”
Lovehall added that he hopes Williams’ story encourages unity among the LGBT community year-round.
“We have to come together as one community and combine our efforts in fighting against transphobia and hate violence,” Lovehall said. “We have to confront the very real racial tensions that often separate us and realize the power in numbers and that we are all in this together. We have to let our voices be heard, not just once a year at Philly Trans* March or at vigils, but all year in all different types of ways.”