Michelle Henry

Michelle Henry (1998 – 2024)

Wherever Michelle was, she was loved and brought love with her. Michelle was unapologetically a black trans lesbian and made her presence known wherever she was. Michelle was a trailblazer in Radical Visibility and truly embodied the principles of existence as resistance.

Michelle’s closest friends knew her to be a strong, dependable, funny, and a very brave person. She had an adventurous lifestyle and liked to go to bars, go on walks, watch movies, play video games, and listen to late 90’s hip hop. She wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything and kept it real in conversations, always. She didn’t care what people thought of her or her friends, and she wasn’t afraid to stand up, even if it meant she was standing by herself. The tragedy of her senseless death is only amplified by the bright future she was building – with a new apartment, new adventures were to come, followed by new dreams.

Michelle Henry was a beautiful member of the community here in San Francisco in her being trans. In her life, she touched so many souls and was a sister to all. Michelle had a knack for seeing the inner beauty even if you did not see it, yourself. She broke down doors for queer folks and connected far flung groups into community. Michelle Henry will be dearly missed as a sister, a niece, an activist and connector. She was the protector of her community.

Written by:

Winston “neo” Henry with assistance of Asia Bennett and the words of Israel “Izzy” st. Lewis and Veronica Nikita Pritipaul