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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrans Advocate Lia Smith Found Dead
Lia Smith, a transgender student at Middlebury College in Vermont, has been confirmed dead by local authorities. Smith, 21, was an active member of student life as a former diver on the womens swimming and diving team, a member of the Chess Club, Japanese Club, and Women in Computer Science, and an articulate advocate of transgender rights, according to a message from Middlebury president Ian Baucom.
Earlier this year, Smith participated in a campus forum that addressed the ongoing political attacks against transgender people in the US. The February 2025 event, covered by the Addison Independent, was held in response to multiple executive orders signed by current US President Donald Trump that targeted trans healthcare and participation in sports. Smith spoke on a panel titled Trans Healthcare is NOT a Debate!, a protest against the colleges decision to host a talk called What is the Right Approach to Public Policy and Transgender Medicine?
On October 23, the Vermont Police Department released a statement confirming that their search and rescue team had discovered a body near the colleges organic farm. The Vermont Chief Medical Examiners Office later identified the body as Smith and determined that there was no suspicion of foul play. The cause of death has now been ruled as suicide.
https://gcn.ie/us-trans-diver-lia-smith-dead/
"Suicide" my ass. 
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				ultralite001
(2,219 posts)TIA
TommyT139
(2,031 posts)Seems entirely conceivable to me, especially if she was attacked online for daring to stand up to the right-wing panel's talking points. Unfortunately that panel included B.W., a trans woman who seems to have caught the "Harry Benjamin Syndrome" bug. 
(I'm not typing out her name because I am quite sure she has a Google alert set for mentions of her on the open web, where DU posts show up.) 
stopdiggin
(14,594 posts)And .. (so very unfortunately) .. in one so young, I have to admit it was one of my first thoughts ...
chouchou
(2,547 posts)Mike Nelson
(10,815 posts)... she being a favorite and frequent "target" for FOX "News" - or maybe it was another Lia.  In any case, R.I.P.  
 
 
Greg_In_SF
(676 posts)Lia Thomas.
Mike Nelson
(10,815 posts)... that was the name.  Thank you.  She must be feeling sad for her namesake.  I hope society finds more kindness for our Trans brothers and sisters.  
 
 
Response to Deep State Witch (Original post)
barbtries This message was self-deleted by its author.
Greg_In_SF
(676 posts)The Vermont Chief Medical Examiners Office of covering up evidence of a murder?
rubbersole
(10,806 posts)Just sayin'.
TommyT139
(2,031 posts)A secluded location, where she wouldn't be interrupted...
Yet on-campus, technically...
While not in the dorms or where other students, unprepared, would find her. 
On the other hand, murders of trans people (women especially) tend to be very violent.   
I'm not invested in whether or not you are convinced, but please consider how assumptions of murder might undercut discussions of the very real statistics of trans suicides; the progress that has been made by trans communities working for years with police and press to minimize harm by, for example, misgendering a deceased person; and in a way, erasing or minimizing whatever Lia was going through in order to paint the news with vibes of conspiracy and suspicion. 
There is enough violence against trans people without giving the rightwing more fodder to doubt the truths of our lives. 
stopdiggin
(14,594 posts)We have no reason (or right), to be co-opting this sad event towards 'other' agenda ...
QueerDuck
(424 posts)MLAA
(19,579 posts)markodochartaigh
(4,524 posts)or even, like Socrates, forced to kill themselves it is still suicide. I think that English needs a new word or term.
calimary
(88,316 posts)Rest with the angels, dear one.
Deep State Witch
(12,397 posts)Of foul play vs. unaliving oneself. It's just that I get suspicious every time that I see a report of a trans person who unalived themselves - especially in a remote area.
TommyT139
(2,031 posts)And thanks for reconsidering things. 
hadEnuf
(3,445 posts)I don't blame anybody for being suspicious when something like this happens.
Greg_In_SF
(676 posts)one documented murder of a trans person in 2025 - Daquan Johnson back in July in Washington State. Unfortunately, people in the trans community have a 40% suicide attempt rate which is about 20 times that of the general population.












