Remembering Kita Bee: Transgender Woman’s Life Cut Short in Alleged Hit-and-Run

Kansas City, Missouri-Friday night saw the streets of Kansas City mourning, as police responded to the death of a pedestrian in a tragic hit-and-run incident in the 3200 block of Independence Avenue. The victim has been identified as 46-year-old Kita Bee, a transgender woman beloved in her community.

A cherished figure in the community

Kris Wade, a close friend, recalled a life marked by both hardship and resilience. “She was very well loved in the streets,” Wade said. “Her passing was very, extremely, extremely traumatizing for her street family. And her real family, too, who she was very well loved by a sister and her mom.”

As the executive director of The Justice Project, a survivor peer organization that aids individuals who have endured life on the streets, abuse, and homelessness, Wade added, “We’re guides to the way out.”

An unwavering spirit

Kita’s connection with Wade began years back, when Wade worked for another organization. Wade expressed, “Eventually we founded The Justice Project and got started. She kept working with us, and we realized her situation was pretty desperate out there, like a lot of folks. And we’ve helped her over the years with housing and getting treatment and all kinds of things.”

For those unfamiliar with Kita Bee, Kris Wade highlighted her authenticity as a person. “24/7, 365 days a year, didn’t matter where she was, what the circumstances were, what she was doing, she was going to be her authentic self,” Wade said. “She was very resilient. She was a real survivor.”

Resilience amidst adversity

According to Wade, Kita was a gentle soul who had undergone immense difficulties. “She had been shot, she’d been attacked numerous times,” Wade said. “Had numerous illnesses, been in and out of the hospital over the years, and she always managed to come out on top.”

Looking for justice

Those close to Kita are desperately hoping for justice. “I just hope there’s some sort of justice out there for her out of all of this and for her family, for her sister,” Wade said.

Wade left a message for everyone: Be kind and respectful of diversity. “There’s always things behind the surface that you may not be aware of,” Wade cautioned.

The fight for trans rights

While the details surrounding the incident are still unfolding, some friends speculate that Kita’s death may have been no accident. Data from the Human Rights Campaign indicates that last year alone, at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people were victims of fatal violence. A striking 84% of these individuals were victims of color, with 50% identified as Black transgender women.

However, it remains unconfirmed whether Kita Bee’s killing was intentional. Nonetheless, advocacy groups in the Kansas City-area persist in their fight to raise awareness about violence against the LGBTQ+ community. Several transgender and gender non-conforming individuals have been murdered in the Kansas City area over the last five years, which includes the likes of Amber Minor, Aerrion Burnett, and Brianna Hill.

Remembering Kita Bee

KSHB 41 reached out to Kita’s family to express their condolences and hopes to speak more with them in the following week. As investigations continue, Kita’s tragic demise has highlighted the urgency to address violence against the LGBTQ+ community. But for now, Kansas City mourns the loss of a resilient member of their community, remembering Kita Bee as an inspiration for everyone to be their authentic selves.