NORTH PHILADELPHIA — Trans star Nyobi Khan lost her life to gun violence early Sunday. It is the second such death in as many days, as the industry grapples with the shocking death from gun violence of performer Cashmere on Saturday in Dallas.
Khan, who also performed as Ivy, was active in adult entertainment for roughly a decade, from 1999 through approximately 2008, and filmed for Grooby, Kink.com and Evil Angel.
Khan, aka Michelle Washington, known on social media as Michelle Simone, and Tamika, passed away early Sunday morning. No arrests have been made and the investigation remains active with the Philadelphia Police Department’s homicide division.
Deja Lynn Alvarez, an at-large candidate for the Philadelphia City Council, spoke out about the violence. "It's very important that we stress that we're not seeing LGB people murdered every other day," they said. "It's time that we say this is happening to trans women, it's happening to black trans women, it's happening to trans women of color… It's time that we shift the focus to that."
A local media outlet described Washington as “a longtime advocate for the transgender community.”
Amber Hikes, the executive director of Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs, issued a statement. “I am devastated by the senseless murder of yet another one of our trans sisters. Tamika was a brilliant and outgoing member of Philadelphia’s transgender community, known for her advocacy and mentorship, and she will be profoundly missed. The epidemic of violence that continues to plague the transgender community — disproportionately impacting trans women of color — is heartbreaking, frightening, and infuriating.”
Raquel Evita Saraswati, chair of Mayor Jim Kenney’s Commission on LGBT Affairs, offered solidarity and drew attention to the hashtag #SayHerName.
She renewed a commitment to “ending the plague of anti-black, anti-trans and queerphobic violence that plagues not just our nation, but our own local community. Our community is nothing without black trans women, and we will mourn the loss of Michelle ‘Tamika’ Washington today and in the years to come. We pledge to not let her loss be in vain, and to stand with those who both endure and combat this violence on a daily basis.”
Steven Grooby notes Khan/Ivy was “highly sought after” as a performer. She first filmed for Grooby in 1999 in New York. “I’d met Ivy personally,” he said. “She was a hugely popular model and performer for her good looks and ability to perform well and realistically, one of the early genuine black trans stars who appeared over multiple companies, for a long period. Although I hadn’t seen her in years, she would pop up.”
“On behalf of Grooby, I want to wish condolences and love to her friends and family.”
Grooby issued a call for more attention to be brought to this specific issue. “I hope we can raise more awareness of how often this happens — noting the deaths of models who have worked in the adult industry, or for us, is just a small segment of the amount of trans women, and especially trans women of color, who are murdered or subjected to violence.”
Cashmere, aka Muhlaysia Booker, was the subject of a shocking viral video in April that showed a mob beating and kicking Booker and shouting slurs. One suspect has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault. It is not yet known if Booker’s murder over the weekend is related to the incident; there are currently no suspects.