In a groundbreaking federal case, a South Carolina man, Daqua Lameek Ritter, was sentenced to life in prison on October 17, 2024, for the brutal murder of a Black transgender woman, Dime Doe. The case has drawn significant attention as it marks the first time a jury found a defendant guilty of violence against a transgender individual under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. The trial is emblematic of the continued violence faced by transgender individuals in the United States, especially in regions where legal protections for marginalized groups remain woefully inadequate.
The Tragic Events Leading to Doe’s Death
In August 2019, Dime Doe, a 24-year-old transgender woman, was found shot to death in her car in Allendale, South Carolina. The small town, far from the spotlight, suddenly became the center of national discourse on trans rights and hate crimes. Federal prosecutors revealed that Ritter, a 28-year-old originally from New York, fatally shot Doe after rumors about their relationship began to circulate within the community.
At the heart of this crime was Ritter’s fear of being publicly outed. As the prosecution explained, he was terrified of being labeled as gay and killed Doe to silence her. This act of violence against a transgender woman was not just a personal tragedy but part of a broader pattern of transphobic violence in the U.S. Unfortunately, Doe’s case is far from an isolated incident.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, 2023 saw the highest number of recorded murders of transgender and gender non-conforming people in the U.S. Many victims, like Doe, were Black transgender women, underscoring the intersectional nature of the violence they face—based on both their race and gender identity.
The Legal Framework and Lack of State Hate Crime Protections
South Carolina is one of only two states in the U.S. that lacks a state hate crime law. This legal gap has left many marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ population, vulnerable to bias-motivated violence without specific state-level legal recourse. In this case, federal authorities took over, prosecuting Ritter under the Shepard-Byrd Act, which allows for the federal prosecution of violent crimes motivated by bias based on race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.
The case highlighted the complex interplay between state and federal jurisdiction. Authorities were able to bring the case to federal court by citing the use of interstate commerce in the crime, including Ritter’s use of a firearm, cell phone, and highways. Without federal intervention, Doe’s murder might not have received the legal attention it warranted, as South Carolina’s laws remain insufficient to address hate crimes.
The conviction of Ritter sets a precedent in federal hate crime cases, marking him as the first person convicted by a jury for violence against a transgender person under the Shepard-Byrd Act. Previous cases, such as that of Joshua Vallum in 2016, involved guilty pleas rather than jury trials. Vallum, who was sentenced to 49 years in prison, admitted to killing his transgender girlfriend, Mercedes Williamson, due to fear of being outed as having a relationship with a transgender woman.
The Broader Context of Transphobia and Hate Crimes
Ritter’s conviction comes at a time when violence against transgender individuals is at a record high, and transgender rights are under increasing attack across the U.S. As Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division emphasized, “In America, trans and gender non-conforming people deserve to live their lives free from violence based on who they are and who they love.”
Yet, despite federal laws such as the Shepard-Byrd Act, the everyday reality for many transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color, remains perilous. Discrimination, violence, and marginalization are rampant, often fueled by a toxic mix of transphobia and systemic inequality. The legal victories, while important, are often cold comfort to the loved ones of victims like Doe, whose lives have been irrevocably shattered by senseless hate.
One of the more insidious aspects of transphobic violence is the way it is frequently intertwined with personal relationships and secrecy. In Doe’s case, it was Ritter’s fear of societal judgment—fear that his relationship with a transgender woman would challenge his masculinity—that led him to murder. This toxic culture of hypermasculinity and homophobia continues to drive violence against the LGBTQ+ community, with many cases involving intimate or former partners.
A Call to Action for Greater Legal Protections
While the Ritter trial represents a crucial legal milestone, it also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive legal reforms at both the state and federal levels. States like South Carolina, which lack hate crime laws, must enact legislation to protect all vulnerable communities, including transgender individuals. The absence of state-level protections leaves a significant gap in justice, allowing perpetrators of hate-motivated violence to escape appropriate punishment in many cases.
The judiciary must also continue to play a critical role in setting legal precedents, as the Ritter trial demonstrates. By prosecuting and convicting Ritter under the Shepard-Byrd Act, federal prosecutors sent a powerful message: hate crimes against transgender individuals will not be tolerated. Still, the reliance on federal intervention highlights the necessity for local and state governments to step up and provide comprehensive protections for LGBTQ+ citizens.
A Time for Solidarity and Reflection
As the LGBTQ+ community continues to face heightened attacks, this case serves as a stark reminder that the fight for equality and protection under the law is far from over. Dime Doe’s life was cut short by an act of hate, but her story has become part of a larger national conversation about justice, equality, and human dignity. For secular humanists, this case is an opportunity to reflect on the values of empathy, reason, and the inherent worth of every individual—values that must guide our society as we strive to create a world where everyone can live free from fear and violence.
This case also prompts broader discussions about the role of religion and cultural norms in perpetuating violence against marginalized groups. As secular humanists, we recognize the dangers of rigid, dogmatic thinking—whether religious or cultural—that devalues individuals based on their identity. The key to moving forward is fostering a society where every person, regardless of gender identity, can live authentically and without fear. In honoring Dime Doe’s memory, we must also commit to advocating for justice, equality, and human rights for all individuals, particularly those who are most vulnerable to prejudice and violence.
