Member-only story
This is complicated story about identity, but it is a story that must be shared within that complexity because it also reflects the consequences of intolerance and hate in our society. The victim who was murdered in this story was a 19 year old young adult who was identified by friends as using both he/him and she/her pronouns but referred to by other friends and family as male. They identified on their social media profiles as Jaheim, but close friends said they also went by Bella. Most people confirmed she identified as part of the LGBTQ community. We are using the term gender nonconforming that does fall under the trans umbrella and is based on what we know so far about Bella.
What we do know is that they were murdered for appearing in public as female, dressing en femme. Early Sunday, December 13, 2020, gunfire erupted at a Christmas party in a private home in Prichard, Alabama, claiming the life of 19-year-old Bella and injuring two others. A suspect has turned himself in to the police and is facing murder charges as well as two counts of second degree assault. According to police and court documents, the suspect was out on bond following another shooting that occurred earlier this year.
Bella went to the party wearing the rainbow jumpsuit shown in the photo above. According to the family, a Facebook live taken after…
