Two-Spirit Lakota Woman Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow Is the Second Reported Trans Woman Murdered in the US This Year

2017 is already proving that 2016 wasn’t a fluke. We’re only a week into the new year and we’ve just found out about the second trans woman of color murdered in the United States. This time, Mic reports that the trans woman who’s life was horribly stolen from her was 28 year tear old Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, a Two-Spirit woman who was living in Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls Two-Spirit and Allies group said that Wounded Arrow was a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe and was originally from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Two pictures of Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, a Lakota Two-Spirit trans woman with dark hair and glasses.

Image via Mic

Wounded Arrow was loved by many and will be sorely missed. Her murder is hitting the community hard. The Sioux Falls Two-Spirit group said “our hearts are broke as we will miss her very much. So again, prayers are needed. Pilamaye.” The Sioux Falls Center for Equality also released a statement saying “Sending Love and our thoughts to Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow and her family… This marks the second trans woman murdered in 2017, and it happened in our own back yard. While the investigation is ongoing, we see that gender and race often play a role in the escalation of violence toward transgender people.”

Police Lt. Michael Colwill said that “based upon the investigation, the victim’s death appears to be a homicide.” No other information was released at the time, but police will be releasing more information at a briefing on Monday.

Just a few days ago we reported on the murder of a Black trans woman from Mississippi named Mesha Caldwell. Who knows when we’ll report on another. It could be tomorrow or it could be next week, but based on the rates that trans women of color are being murdered over the last few years, it’s going to be soon. Also, while I’m saying this is the second murder, what that means is that it’s the second murder we know about. So often the murders of trans women go unreported. This can be because she was a sex worker or homeless and the police don’t care, or because she was misgendered, or because she was Black or Latina or Native American and the police and media don’t care, or most often, a combination of these factors. America hates trans women of color and while we get more attention when we die then while we’re alive, we still don’t get much then.

Three pictures of Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, a Two-Spirit Lakota woman with dark hair and glasses.

I don’t know how to talk about what it’s like being a trans woman of color to people who aren’t. I often say that it’s exhausting, that it’s terrifying, that it’s lonely. But a lot of the time, it’s just sad. It’s sad that I can’t go on a date without my friends and family being worried that I’ll be murdered. It’s sad that my friends constantly are going to funerals for their sisters and siblings. It’s sad that no matter how many times we ask for help, our cries fall on mostly apathetic ears. It’s sad. My heart has broken for Jamie Lee and her family, friends and loved ones. She was beautiful. Rest in Peace and Power.

The trans women murdered so far in 2017 are:

Mesha Caldwell, 41

Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

Join AF+!

Mey

Mey Rude is a fat, trans, Latina lesbian living in LA. She's a writer, journalist, and a trans consultant and sensitivity reader. You can follow her on twitter, or go to her website if you want to hire her.

Mey has written 572 articles for us.

8 Comments

  1. I can only imagine how heartbreaking and exhausting it must be for you keep writing these memorial posts, Mey. Thank you for doing it anyways. May Jamie rest in peace.

  2. I just can’t understand the rage and hatred directed at Trans Women and especially Trans women of colour. My not being able to understand why, makes no difference to the horror of the reality though.

    I’m so sorry that all of these women have been denied a life in which to grow, love and be themselves.

    Mey, thank you for the honour that you bring to these women in death and perhaps, the long role of the record of their murders will, eventually lead to their lives forming the catalyst for the change that we expect for these members of our community.

    Take all of the care for yourself. Love, Diane.

  3. This just makes me sad, hopeless, and terrified. It’s heartbreaking that these wonderful brave women are losing their lives for just being who they are.

  4. It is with great sadness I have read this. As a cis gendered gay male,(Living in Australia) it is beyond me how so many people hold so much disregard fro human life, but more importantly TRANS people like all of us should be able to live in a safe and secure environment.
    The fear and dislike seems to universal for this hate filled cowards

Comments are closed.