Righteous Torrence 'Chevy' Hill was a 35 year old Black Trans Man who was murdered in Atlanta, Georgia last week.

He was the owner of an LGBTQ salon, meant to give Black/Queer folks a safe place to just be.

He was a father, a brother, a son, a friend.

Rest In Power and Rest peacefully Chevy

His story is not getting nearly enough attention.

💙💖💙💖

I'm sorry but I'm just so angry, we really do need to include black people in queer art there is no queer history without black people I'm tired of barely seeing any black coded characters on this site. Being queer is not a white thing but it feels like it's the default on this website.

Righteous Torrence “Chevy” Hill, A black trans man, was murdered on February 29, 2024 in Atlanta. I’ve seen very few people reporting on this, other than a few small local news sites and queer news sites, please don’t let his murder be overlooked.

https://www.gayemagazine.com/post/35-year-old-black-trans-man-hair-salon-owner-righteous-torrence-tk-hill-murdered-in-atlanta

another black trans man was murdered on Thursday, February 29, 2024. his name Righteous Torrence "Chevy" Hill. we currently do not know any details other than that he was murdered.

his friend posted two days ago on instagram:

our beautiful black trans brother, 35 year old Righteous Torrence “Chevy” Hill, was murdered in Atlanta, GA this weekend. he went by his nickname ‘Chevy’. he was originally from Macon, GA. he owned Evollusion, which is a black/queer owned LGBTQ+ salon in Atlanta that provided and dedicated full service to specializing in hair, nails, barbering and makeup. growing up as young black queer boys/kids , the barbershop experience can sometimes be a tricky space to occupy, this was something that Chevy understood and wanted to cultivate a space of safety where you can also get the affirming look and style you want, and he did exactly that. Chevy was a beloved son, brother, partner, and father. one of his last posts that had a photo of himself said : “if you truly know me, you know i am a humble, modest, private man, that i love my community, i have the love of God in me and will give the shirt off my back to any soul in need, also i never post pictures of myself, i never give myself credit, that stops today, i am my legacy!” (a close friend of Chevy asked if i could share more then one photo of Chevy, since he never posted photos of himself and in recent years he got the confidence to want to share more photos and now he won’t get the chance to) Chevy, hey king, hey brother, hey angel, thank you for everything, i lové you, we lové you, i’m so sorry. there are a lot of photographers in heaven who will be able to photograph you as the glorious black trans angel that you are. there will be a homegoing service/memorial for our brother

tw: black+trans death

from the_yvesdropper on instagram:

our beautiful black trans brother, 35 year old Righteous Torrence "Chevy" Hill, was murdered in Atlanta, GA this weekend.

he went by his nickname 'Chevy' he was originally from Macon, GA. he owned Evollusion, which is a black/ queer owned LGBTQ+ salon in Atlanta that provided and dedicated full service to specializing in hair, nails, barbering and makeup. growing up as young black queer boys/kids, the barbershop experience can sometimes be a tricky space to occupy, this was something that Chevy understood and wanted to cultivate a space of safety where you can also get the affirming look and style you want, and he did exactly that.

Chevy was a beloved son, brother, partner, and father.

one of his last posts that had a photo of himself said :

"if you truly know me, you know i am a humble, modest, private man, that i love my community, i have the love of God in me and will give the shirt off my back to any soul in need, also i never post pictures of myself, legaey give myself credit, that stops today, i am my legacy!"

(a close friend of Chevy asked if i could share more then one photo of Chevy, since he never posted photos of himself and in recent years he got the confidence to want to share more photos and now he won't get the chance to)

Chevy, hey king, hey brother, hey angel, thank you for everything, i lové you, we lové you, i'm so sorry. there are a lot of photographers in heaven who will be able to photograph you as the glorious black trans angel that you are.

there will be a homegoing service/memorial for our brother

there aren't many details about what happened but apparently he was shot by a family member last wednesday, the 28th (at least this article was the one linked in relation to his murder.)

judging by both the IG post and the comments section he was well-loved by many people and those people have many good memories with him and nothing but good things to say. this is a comment that was left by tirajmeansgolden which was hidden by IG for some reason:

I started testosterone in February 2020. I hit this man up at the end of 2019 after numerous Google searches for an LGBT-friendly barber near me (and by near me... he was a good 35-40 minutes from the rural area I was in outside of Atlanta: but when I found out he was a trans man and that his business was the first and only LGBT hair bar, I knew it would be worth the trip). I was a dysphoric mess in his DMs one Sunday. I hated how my hair was growing out. I never had a "masculine" hairstyle before but decided one day I would buzz it all off myself, then allowed it to grow out a bit... I sent him a video and despite him being closed on Sunday, he told me to come through. I got my hair braided and he gave me my first really masculine fade. Explained the different terms. Lined me up. Was asking me about my decision to transition and provided some helpful advice + guidance. I told him how I was a therapist and he was hype and said he talked with a group of trans men and he would love for me to stop by and also give some mental health tips. So whoever said he was humble - wow, what an understatement. Such a community man! Made me feel SO comfortable because barbershops were a source of major trauma and triggers for me. They were such an integral part of my early transition (I just celebrated 4 years later week). And he was such an integral part of the Atlanta Queer community with hosting events like Queer Con. How I found so many other great resources + queer businesses/artists. May you rest in peace, Chevy. You'll be missed. You've made such a different in the lives of countless people. You definitely were living your Purpose + left a legacy behind ...

TW: Black trans murder

[Photo ID: Tee Arnold, a heavily tattooed Black man wearing a red tank top and gold chain, looks at the camera with a serious expression in a selfie taken indoors. /End ID]

Tee Arnold aka Lagend Billions, 36, died on April 07, 2024 from gun violence. He is the first trans Floridian to die in 2024.

Via @them's article:

Arnold’s death marks at least the ninth violent death of a trans person in the U.S. in 2024, per a running total maintained by PLC. He is also the second known Black trans man to be shot and killed this year, following the death of Righteous Torrence “Chevy” Hill in Atlanta on February 29.

“Tee Arnold is the fourth death driven by hate of a trans man this year, marking a concerning rise in fatal violence against our brothers,” said Victoria Kirby York, director of public policy and programs at the National Black Justice Coalition (NBCJ), in a press release obtained by The Advocate.

York noted that Arnold had “posted that his life was in danger,” arguing “that if the police had taken action on the threats against his life, this tragedy could have been prevented.”

“We also cannot ignore that this murder occurred in Florida, a state that has been leading the charge in anti-trans legislation and rhetoric,” she said.

According to Yahoo news:

Anyone with information that may lead to an arrest in Arnold’s death is asked to call Hallandale Beach police at (954) 457-1400 or Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS. Tipsters have the option to remain anonymous, and a reward of up to $5,000 is being offered.

grocery store walk

The most beautiful sunsets are always on my walks to the grocery store / Something about the parking lot / something about the pain. I am being swallowed by this / this grief is insurmountable / I look at the sky and I want to cry I look at the sky and I feel so small. And I laugh.

And 

Being trans is longing for home because the one place you should feel safe, your body, the only thing we truly own, isn’t ours. Being trans is creating yourself in your own image. It’s beautiful as the sunset and as painful as the fire that colors it.

I walk to the grocery store and I can’t listen to my music because a man rolls down his window to yell at me.

I look like a woman and I’m catcalled. I look like a man and I’m unsafe.

I can’t tune out of this.

I am being swallowed by the grief of my trans friends who have been bullied to suicide.

I am swallowed by the memory. I try to walk and all I can think about is Nex Benedict who should still be alive. Righteous Torrence “Chevy” Hill who should still be alive. We should all be alive. We should all be able to live

I dream of a world where being / black / isn’t danger / and making your body / a home you want to live in / doesn’t make you at risk