You often hear of families who have abandoned their Trans family member, even their GOFUNDMEs often misgender them which can be incredibly dehumanizing and painful for the friends and chosen family who knew them in life. To honor who someone is, is to respect who they authentically were both in life and death. In the interviews with both Tahiry and Sam’s family, they stood by their loved ones and used correct pronouns and names through immense heartbreak and grief. There was a vigil for Tahiry on Valentine’s Day and there wilI be one held in Canandaigua on February 17th.

Both family’s have created GOFUNDME’s to raise money for their travel and funeral expenses which will be significant as both will be bringing their children home from another state to lay them to rest. If you are in the position to give, at this moment, Sam’s GOFUNDME has raised $12,764 and Tahiry’s GOFUNDME has only raised $105.

Since Day 1 of the Trump Administration, the Trans community has been hit over and over again with vicious Executive Orders that challenge everything from their right to serve in the military, to ability to receive life-saving care, to questioning their very existence. While organizations and Attorney Generals from across the nation bring the legality and constitutionality of these actions to Federal Justices for intervention, the consequences of the hateful rhetoric spewing from our highest offices is parroted by the masses and puts the lives of every single Trans community member in more and more danger every day. This week alone, the murders of both Tahiry Broom and Sam Nordquist hit the news and an already hurting community.

(December 5, 2024) - News broke this week that Syracuse Justice, Felicia Pitts Davis refused to marry a lesbian couple in a civil ceremony in the Central New York city in mid-November. Shawntay Davis, 33, and Niccora Davis, 29 watched an opposite sex couple before them be married by Judge Pitts-Davis without issue but when it was their turn to step forward, the judge walked out with what one of the brides called, “a disgusted look” not to return. A second judge came out and took over leaving the couple confused and disheartened. They tried to enjoy their special day but thoughts of what happened and it’s implications lingered. The couple says they aren’t looking to punish the Judge but do hope this doesn’t happen to another couple. The Post-Standard cited two unnamed sources who said Pitts Davis told Doherty (the judge who stepped in) that she didn't want to marry the two women due to her "religious beliefs."

Pitts Davis was referred to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct while Gov. Kathy Hochul,