Transgender woman found dead near playground from blunt force trauma

theGRIO REPORT -

On Tuesday, a transgender woman in Florida was found dead near a playground.

Officials are treating the death as a suspected murder, according to a WTSP-TV report.

India Clarke was found between the basketball courts and a playground near Tampa’s University Area Community Park, dead of blunt force trauma. So far this year, Clarke is the tenth transgender woman believed to have been murdered.

Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox, who is also a transgender woman, posted a tribute to Clarke on her Instagram account.

She was only 25 years old and clearly into all things beauty hair and makeup just like me. I can’t help but feel like I’m next. That’s why I do the work I do because the avg. life expectancy for someone like me is only 35 years old.

@Regrann from @chernobiko – As if #SandraBland wasn't enough heartbreak this week the 10th Trans Women of Color to be lynched this year was found earlier today in Tampa FL. She was only 25 years old and clearly into all things beauty hair and makeup just like me. I can't help but feel like I'm next. That's why I do the work I do because the avg. life expectancy for someone like me is only 35 years old. This is why I always quote Lucille Clifton "Won't you celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed". I know I just relaunched #BackingBiko but no shade the best birthday gift would be for yall to stop killing us. Just because we have a couple rich and famous trans people doesn't mean the work is over. We must #SayHerName #IndiaClarke. #BlackLivesMatter #TransIsBeautiful #CaitlynJenner #m4bl #TransGriot #KindraChapman #Regrann

A photo posted by laverne cox (@lavernecox) on

Following the discovery of Clarke’s death, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was harshly criticized for misgendering Clarke, as the story was initially reported that a man dressed in woman’s clothing had been discovered dead, and the name given to Clarke was Samuel Elijah Clarke.

The sheriff’s office has since come forward to say that they were unaware that Clarke identified as a woman.

The murder investigation is ongoing.

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