HOUSTON — Standing united as one in honor of 36-year-old Diamond Brigman is how those who knew her and some who didn't, chose to spend their Sunday afternoon in Houston's Museum District.
"We are here not just to say goodbye to Diamond but to remember the incredible light she was in our lives," said a close friend of Diamond's.
A light snuffed out too soon in a tragic trend involving violent crimes against the transgender community.
Houston police said Brigman was shot and killed while standing on the side of Country Creek Street in southwest Houston just after 1 a.m. on March 16.
"Before you see any of us in our trans and gender identity first, the one thing we are at all times from the moment of birth, from the moment of conception, from the moment we come out before they gender identify us is human beings," said Atlantis Narcisse, Founder of Save Our Sisters United.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 32 people who identified as transgender were murdered in 2023.
84% were people of color and 50% were Black trans women.
"Too many from the community are losing their lives to violence and these just aren’t numbers they’re people with dreams and families and the loss screams out for change," said Diamond's close friend.
"Just on Saturday you know we had another one of our siblings come to our office who was brutalized and attacked in the same neighborhood as Diamond was fatally took from us," said Verniss McFarland.
McFarland is the Executive Director of The Mahogany Project, a safe space offering resources to trans and queer people of color, where he said for years, Diamond found a place to belong.
"She was looking to turn her life around for the best," said McFarland.
A life to be forever remembered in a community united as one.
"We ask y’all please, please whenever y’all see a call for Black trans liberation, Black trans women, for Black trans people, show up do what you can to be in solidarity and not just in moments like this," pleaded McFarland. “We need community more than ever.”
Houston police say the two suspects in this case ditched the car they were in after shooting Brigman. No arrests have been made.
HPD is asking anyone with information that could lead to an arrest to contact them or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).