Families of Pauly Likens and Amariey Lei mourn the loss of their children on Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The families of Pauly Likens and Amariey Lei held a press conference outside of the City-County Building on Grant St. Amariey Lei, a 19-year-old transgender woman from Pittsburgh, was shot and killed in Wilkinsburg in 2022 and no arrests have been made in her case.

Jen McClure, the mother of Pauly Likens, a 14-year-old transgender girl from Sharon, who was murdered and sexually assaulted in Mercer County last June, spoke beautifully and solemnly of her late child, “Pauly was a beautiful, brave 14-year-old whose only crime was wanting to be herself, to be happy with who she was and to live her best life.”

Jason Landau Goodman of the Pennsylvania Youth Congress comforted the families of Lei and Likens and demanded protections for the transgender community.

The state of Pennsylvania currently has no LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes law.

Jen McClure, mother of Pauly Likens embraces a family member during a press conference on Trans Day of Rememberance on Nov. 20, 2024. Pauly Likens was a transgender girl from Sharon who was murdered and sexually assaulted in Mercer County in June, 2024.
Jason Landau Goodman comforts Jen McClure during a press conference honoring her child, Pauly Likens, who was murdered in June of this year, on Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2024.
The families of Pauly Likens and Amariey Lei held a press conference outside of the City County Building on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
The families of Pauly Likens and Amariey Lei held a press conference outside of the City County Building on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Jen McClure, mother of Pauly Likens speaks during a press conference on Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2024.
Jason Landau Goodman sets up a speaker for a press conference on Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2024.
Dena Stanley of Transyouniting speaks during a press conference on Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2024.
Jen McClure, mother of Pauly Likens attends a press conference on Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2024.
The families of Pauly Likens and Amariey Lei held a press conference outside of the City County Building on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Jen McClure, mother of Pauly Likens speaks during a press conference on Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2024.
Dena Stanley of Transyouniting comforts Jen McClure during a press conference honoring the lives of Pauly Likens and Amariey Lei on Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2024.
Dena Stanley of Transyouniting speaks during a press conference honoring the lives of Pauly Likens and Amariey Lei on Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2024.