KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brianna “BB” Hill, 30, known as trans star Aries, was killed October 14. She is the third trans industry performer, and 20th known trans woman of color, to lose her life to gun violence this year.
Aries had filmed “a number of times” for Grooby’s Black-Tgirls.com. “Just heard the sad and horrible news,” said founder and CEO Steven Grooby in a tweet yesterday afternoon.
“Rest in peace. Sadly, another statistic of black trans women getting killed. This has got to stop.”
According to police, Hill was shot and killed Monday in Kansas City, Missouri. “The alleged shooter remained at the scene and authorities are looking for no other suspects,” said Police Capt. Tim Hernandez.
A media report notes an argument led to the shooting.
Elliott Kozuch, spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, spoke to Newsweek about Hill’s death. “She had family and friends who are mourning this senseless loss — a loss that is part of a larger epidemic of violence against the transgender community in this country, spurred by a toxic mix of transphobia, racism, misogyny and unchecked gun violence. There are currently very few explicit legal protections for transgender or gender-expansive people. While the transgender community does have protections in employment, housing and public accommodations in Kansas City, there are no state nondiscrimination protections for this community, and they are not covered under the state’s hate crimes legislation.”
Performer Cashmere, aka Muhlaysia Booker, was shot and killed in Dallas in late May; one day later, performer Nyobi Khan, who also performed as Ivy, aka Michelle “Tamika” Washington, was killed in North Philadelphia.