[transgendernews] [News/Obituary] [PA, USA] Brittany A. DeLoach
S. Stevens
Philadelphia Gay News, PA, USA
4/20/07
Obituary
Brittany A. DeLoach
By Timothy Cwiek
PGN Writer-at-Large
Brittany A. DeLoach, a trans activist who was outspoken in her
criticism of Philadelphia police, died of a massive heart attack at
her Northeast Philadelphia home on April 15. She was 31.
Leonore F. Carpenter, an attorney for DeLoach, said her death was a
great loss for the GLBT community.
"Brittany had taken herself from very difficult early circumstances
and turned her life around," Carpenter said. "She was in the process
of attaining a college degree. She was never afraid to stand up for
the things she believed in and the people she loved. She'll be
missed."
DeLoach was born in Philadelphia on March 12, 1976.
She attended Beeber Middle School in West Philadelphia from 1989-91
and graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1994, according
to Philadelphia public-school records.
DeLoach's main joy in life was her daughter, Brittany Khadija NyVera
DeLoach. The deceased's mother, Vera DeLoach, will raise the 9-year-
old girl.
"My daughter was a very devoted mother to little Brittany," said Vera
DeLoach. "She took pride in keeping a beautiful home. She loved
taking care of her family. She was a loving person. Everyone who met
her loved her."
DeLoach faced many challenges growing up as a trans woman, but she
always kept an optimistic outlook, her mother said.
At the time of her death, she was a student at Community College of
Philadelphia and hoped to be employed as a social worker after
graduating, her mother said.
DeLoach became known as a trans activist when she filed a formal
complaint against Philadelphia police three years ago for allegedly
profiling her as a sex worker due to her trans status.
In February 2004, as she was standing on the corner of 13th and
Locust streets, DeLoach allegedly was rushed by two officers and a
supervisor.
DeLoach maintained that the officers allegedly held her against a
fence, dumped the contents of her pocketbook on the ground and
verbally abused her.
The officers acknowledged stopping DeLoach and claimed she fit the
description of a person who stabbed someone in the vicinity a few
minutes earlier.
Police investigators never were able to verify the stabbing incident,
nor DeLoach's alleged resemblance to the stabber. Still, DeLoach's
complaint was dismissed as unsubstantiated by the Police Advisory
Commission.
"I won't let the police steal my soul," DeLoach told PGN after filing
her complaint.
DeLoach's funeral will be held at 9 a.m. April 23 at the Nix Funeral
Home, 1621 W. Dauphin St. Burial will follow at Eden Memorial
Cemetery, 1434 Springfield Road in Collingdale.
In addition to her mother and daughter, DeLoach is survived by her
father, William Philpot of Philadelphia, three sisters and one
brother.
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News
http://www.epgn.com/042007/1obitsDELOACH042007.htm
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