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16-Year-Old Trans Male and Older Sibling Shot to Death by Mother in Western Pennsylvania
Another tragedy involving a trans neighbor unfolded Monday, February 22 in Ambridge, Beaver County, Pennsylvania when a 48-year-old mother shot both of her young adult children in the head, killing them at the scene inside the family home. 22-year-old Jasmine Cannady and younger brother, 16-year-old Jeffery ‘JJ’ Bright died. JJ has been repeatedly misgendered and deadnamed by local media, prompting a local LGBTQ youth organization that he attended to correct the reporting
He has been called JJ (Jeffrey) and used he/him pronouns since age 12. This was how he was referred to by family, friends, and school.
Stations like WTAE corrected their reporting to state that JJ was transitioning. That is not quite accurate. He had socially transitioned four years ago. Other aspects of his transition are not relevant to the reporting that he was a young man. Or anyone’s business. Don’t speculate. Don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t use his identity as a launch pad for your own anti-transgender agenda. He was a boy, get it right.
JJ’s cousin is diligently following up on all of the misgendered FB posts and articles. They ask that if you correct content, please use the hashtag #hisnamewasjeffrey to help them in their efforts. JJ and Jasmine deserved to be alive…
