Indya Moore Honors Murdered Black Trans Women During Fashion Week

This year, 17 black transwomen were murdered and actress Indya Moore is making sure their memory lives on.

The Pose actress was honored at the Fashion Media Awards for being the first transwomen to be featured on the cover of Elle Magazine. In remembrance of the 17 victims,  Moore wore long keepsake earrings and carried a purse and frame which the pictures of each trans woman that was killed this year.

“It’s hard to celebrate being celebrated for being myself during a time when people like me are being murdered for being themselves,” Moore said during her acceptance speech for the Cover of the Year Award. “This year, 16 known women were taken from us because of that same fear. On this day that I’m celebrated and awarded for being visible, I decided to bring them with me. I’m wearing them on my ears as earrings. I’d like to thank Ian Bradley, my stylist, and the designer, Aree for creating a way for me to bring these women here with me tonight.”

The 17th victim,  Bailey Reeves,  was murdered on Labor Day, and though it was too late to feature her on her jewelry,  Moore carried her picture.

“On Labor Day—Monday—a 17-year-old girl named Bailey Reeves was shot to death in D.C. I’m grieving with her family. She would make the 17th, and youngest-known black trans female murdered this year by gun violence. As Ian predicted, it was too late to include her in the jewelry created by Aree. So I brought her in this picture frame for you all to see. 17-years-old, baby girl. Just like me, these women dared to exhaust their freedom to exist by being visible. However, instead of being celebrated they’re punished for it.”

Source: Paul Bruinooge / Getty

The keepsake earrings were designed by Areeayl Yoseefaw, who first designed the keepsake earring to honor her godmother. When she was contacted by stylist Ian Bradley to lend her design to honor all the murdered trans women this year for Moore she couldn’t refuse.

“In their hour of celebration they put their trans sisters in the forefront,” she said on Instagram. “They spoke for those who cannot and became a light for everyone.”