Family members of Pauly Likens and Amariey Lei, alongside LGBTQ+ advocates, will gather at the Pittsburgh City-County Building tomorrow to demand justice and accountability for the tragic murders of these beloved young transgender women. The press conference, timed to coincide with Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), aims to spotlight the urgent need for action from law enforcement and legislative bodies to protect the lives of transgender Pennsylvanians.
The event will take place on Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the Grant Street Portico of the Pittsburgh City-County Building (414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA).
Speakers will include Jen McClure, mother of Pauly Likens, family members of Amariey Lei, Jason Landau Goodman, Board Chair of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, and Dena Stanley, Executive Director of TransYOUniting.
The press conference serves as both a demand for justice and an expression of solidarity with the trans community, whose members face disproportionate violence and systemic neglect.
Pauly Likens was a vibrant 14-year-old transgender girl who was brutally murdered and sexually assaulted in Mercer County on June 23, 2024. While local authorities swiftly apprehended her alleged killer, her family and community remain in anguish, compounded by the lack of transparency and action from the federal justice system. Despite the protections offered under the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan has refused to open an investigation into the case or even communicate with Pauly’s family.
Pennsylvania’s lack of an LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes law leaves such heinous acts inadequately addressed, underscoring the urgency of legislative reform.
Amariey Lei, a joyful 19-year-old Black transgender woman, was found shot to death on Wood Street in Wilkinsburg on January 1, 2022. Nearly three years later, her family and community still have no answers. Law enforcement has failed to identify suspects or produce leads in the case. Amariey’s murder reflects a disturbing national trend: Black transgender women experience disproportionately high rates of homicide within the broader transgender community, a reality exacerbated by systemic racism, transphobia, and a lack of institutional support.
Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed annually on November 20th, is a solemn occasion to honor the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost to violence. This year’s gathering in Pittsburgh serves as both a commemoration and a rallying cry, emphasizing the urgent need to protect vulnerable trans communities.
As the family members of Pauly and Amariey prepare to speak, their message is clear: No one should have to fight this hard for justice, and no more lives should be lost to hate and neglect.
Community members and allies are encouraged to attend in solidarity. For those unable to join in person, local LGBTQ organizations will share updates and amplify the call for action on social media throughout the day.
