San Antonio Mayor Jones honors Trans Day of Remembrance

In a video, Gina Ortiz Jones called out Texas for being the No. 1 state in trans murders. Credit: Public Domain / Tech. Sgt. Erin Smith

In a Thursday social media video, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones acknowledged Nov. 20 as Trans Day of Remembrance, a nationally recognized day designated to raise awareness about anti-trans murders throughout the country.

In the clip Jones — the city’s first openly LGBTQ+ mayor — called out the state of Texas for being an especially dangerous place for transgender people.

“Texas unfortunately has the reputation of having the most anti-trans murders of any state in the country, and we know this disproportionately impacts transgender women of color,” Jones said. “So we’ve got a lot to do as a state — certainly I think that starts in our own community and with our own neighbors.”

The Transgender Law Center reports 148 violent deaths of transgender people since 2017. Fourteen — or roughly 10% — occurred in Texas.

Transgender individuals murdered in the Lone Star State since 2017 include Helle Jae O’Regan, a trans woman murdered in San Antonio in May 2020, and Kenne McFadden, a trans woman found in the San Antonio River in 2017.

At the time of McFadden’s death, the San Antonio Police Department misgendered her in its report that she had been pushed into the river, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Eight years later, during a June 2025 LGBTQ community forum in response to the death of actor Jonathan Joss, attendees highlighted misgendering as an ongoing issue with SAPD.

In a Trinity University and Pride Center SA survey of more than 800 members of San Antonio’s LGBTQ+ community, just 1 in 5 respondents said they were comfortable seeking help from SAPD. Thirty-five percent of respondents said that they had been openly called slurs by the police, and 70% of respondents said that they had been intentionally misgendered or their sexuality had been disrespected by officers.

Jones — then a mayoral candidate — was in attendance at the community forum, and indicated when speaking with the Current that more work needs to be done to build trust between the San Antonio queer community and local police.

“I think the community was heard, but being heard and having that applied in practice, that’s the second step,” Jones said at the time.

In Thursday’s video, Jones echoed that sentiment.

“What are the steps we are taking to make sure our trans neighbors feel seen, feel heard and feel safe?” she asked.

The Current reached out to Jones’ office about what those steps might be, and whether they include efforts to reduce alleged misgendering incidents by members of the SAPD. We didn’t receive a response by press time.

“Look, your mayor, your City Council has your back,” Jones added in her video. “I want to say that very loudly and very clearly to our trans neighbors.”

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San Antonio Mayor Jones honors Trans Day of Remembrance

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