A crowd of about 50 gathered at the corner of North Avenue and Charles Street, braving chilly winds to remember Tyra Trent. Speaking over the din of rush-hour traffic, Webb said: "Our struggle goes on. Let's keep the good fight going."
The vigil was organized by Sandy Rawls, director of Trans-United, which provides help to members of the transgender community.
"We all have our struggles," Rawls said. But, she added, resources are scarce for transgender individuals.
Rawls said she had been working with Trent to formally change her name and obtain her GED.
"Being transgender takes a strong mind, not just to fight society but your own insecurities — a lot want to give up," said Stacy Williams, 35, who knew Trent since she was 15, before she made the "transition," which he said took Trent two or three years.
He said it was a "major step" for Trent to work toward a high school equivalency degree after struggling with drugs — "but she got her life on track," he said.
Williams was among several of Trent's friends who attended the gathering.
"It feels good to see everyone here supporting the same cause," he said.
Two people led songs, but most people remained quiet, clutching small white candles inside Dixie cups.
Trent's mother spoke briefly to the crowd, thanking everyone and asking them to "keep us all in your prayers."
Tyra Trent was found dead in a vacant home last weekend. She strangled and left in the basement.
On Saturday, someone wandered into a vacant city-owned home in the 3300 block of Virginia Ave. in Northwest Baltimore and found Trent's body in the basement. She had no identification and no cell phone, but an autopsy revealed that she had been asphyxiated. City homicide detectives are investigating the case.
It took two days to confirm Trent's identity and notify family. Trent had been reported missing two weeks earlier, after leaving home late at night on a Sunday and never returning. Trent had been known to leave for a few days at a time, but always kept in touch with her mother, Sundra. Not this time.
"Sundra felt it. After two days she said, 'Something happened to my baby,' " said Pamela Holden, a family friend.
Relatives were gathered at the Trent family home Tuesday night, where they remembered Trent as a vibrant person who liked to dance, loved animals and loved to style hair. She worked with people with disabilities, they said.
"He was a good person, and he made friends," said aunt Evelina "Noni" Trent, 41.
The reason for Tyra's murder is unknown. I hope the LGBT will come together and reach out to the Transgendered community in Baltimore.
