Miami's Torch of Friendship became a site of mourning as dozens came together on Saturday to honor the lives of two transgender individuals, Andrea Doria Dos Passos and Tee “Lagend Billions” Arnold, who were victims of fatal attacks this month. Dos Passos was found beaten to death on a Miami Beach sidewalk, while Arnold, known as Lagend, was shot in Hallandale Beach earlier in April, as reported by WSVN.
While participants laid down flowers, chanting the victims' names in a sea of grief, the Executive Director of ColorNRaw, Camille Lewis, said, "That could have been one of us. I’m standing in solidarity with a reflection of myself," underlining the connection felt by many in the community. According to the same WSVN coverage, Jasmine McKenzie, who heads The McKenzie Project, highlighted the housing crisis for trans individuals, adding, "We don’t have a shelter or a housing program that we can go to."
Police have arrested Gregory Gibert, 53, and charged him with first-degree murder in the beating death of Dos Passos, who was also experiencing homelessness at the time of her murder. Gregory Fitzgerald Gibert was initially charged with second-degree murder, but this was later elevated due to the circumstances of the crime. Hallandale Beach Police continue their search for Arnold's killers, urging anyone with information to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers, with the possibility of a reward of up to $5,000 for helpful tips as highlighted by WSVN.
In a separate vigil held to remember Dos Passos, friends and family gathered at Miami Beach's Old City Hall where Pridelines, one of the city's LGBTQ+ community centers, had a strong connection with Dos Passos. The center’s executive director, Edward Summers, shared with the Miami Herald, "This is hard for our organization." Ana Van Gilst, Dos Passos' mother, expressed relief upon learning about the supportive community her daughter had found, saying, "It gave me so much bliss that she had a community." Meanwhile, Angela Contreras, a local who attended the vigil, shared her concerns for safety, particularly for women and those in the LGBTQ+ community, with the same publication.
Rebe Silvey, another attendant of the vigil held for Dos Passos, did not know her but felt compelled to show support, expressing her frustration to the Miami Herald with the authorities' reluctance to classify the brutal killing as a hate crime. Silvey stated, "It’s just really upsetting that the police are not calling this a hate crime when it is." She emphasized the need for greater protection and acknowledgement of the issues affecting trans individuals in the community.
