On July 12, Our Executive Director Jaelynn Scott, reached out to Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth on behalf of LRP and our concern for our Black trans sibling who has recently disappeared in the Bahamas, Taylor Casey. The letter writes:

Dear Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth,

I am writing on behalf of the Lavender Rights Project, a transgender-led advocacy organization committed to the rights and well-being of the Black community, particularly gender-diverse persons. We are deeply concerned about the disappearance of Taylor Casey, a Black transgender woman from Chicago, who has been missing in the Bahamas since June 19, 2024.

Taylor was last seen at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island. Her disappearance has left her family and friends in a state of anguish and fear, as they believe she is in imminent danger. Taylor’s mother, Colette Seymore, has expressed grave concerns about the investigation conducted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, which has so far yielded limited results and raised more questions than answers.

Despite finding some of Taylor’s personal effects, including her cell phone and journal, Bahamian authorities have been unable or unwilling to provide critical information to her family. This lack of transparency and the troubling reports of potential corruption within the police force only exacerbates the family’s fears and suspicions.

We urge you to leverage your positions to demand a more rigorous and transparent investigation into Taylor Casey’s disappearance. Specifically, we request that you:

1. Urge the U.S. State Department to engage with Bahamian authorities to ensure the investigation is thorough and impartial.

2. Advocate for the involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the case to provide additional resources and expertise.

3. Press for consistent and clear communication from Bahamian authorities to Taylor’s family regarding the progress of the investigation.

Taylor Casey’s case underscores the broader issue of how the disappearances of marginalized individuals, particularly Black transgender women, often do not receive the urgent and comprehensive attention they deserve. This disparity in attention and resources can lead to prolonged suffering for families and communities, which must be addressed.

We trust in your commitment to justice and equity, and we hope you will act swiftly to bring attention and resources to this critical case. Taylor’s life and countless other transgender individuals depend on the commitment of leaders like you to stand up and demand accountability.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your response and any actions you can take to assist in the search for Taylor Casey.

Sincerely,

Jaelynn Scott and the Lavender Rights Project Team
Executive Director