WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cayla Calhoun, a 43-year-old transgender woman who relocated from Alabama in search of safety and acceptance, is recovering after a violent, hate-fueled attack near the National Mall that left her unconscious and bleeding in the early morning hours of June 29.
Calhoun, who works as a sommelier and bartender at the Annabelle restaurant in D.C., had just wrapped up a late shift and stopped for a beer at a nearby bar, Golden Age, before heading home. Dressed in a skirt and wearing a rainbow pin, she climbed onto her Onewheel electric board around 12:45 a.m. and began a familiar ride through Georgetown toward her home.
She remembers taking a detour near Filomena, a popular Italian restaurant, passing the Kennedy Center, and emerging near the Washington Monument, glowing in the night. What happened next would shatter any remaining sense of security she had found in the nation’s capital.
Surrounded and Beaten by Attackers
While riding near the Mall, Calhoun was surrounded by three men on scooters who began hurling anti-transgender slurs before beating her severely and leaving her for dead. The attackers tore her skirt, left her body bloodied and bruised, and fled the scene.
“It was becoming unsafe as a transgender person in Alabama,” Calhoun recalled, explaining why she left her home state in January for what she believed would be a more welcoming environment in D.C. “So I moved to D.C. because I thought it would be safer. Oh, no.”
With a mix of irony and defiance, she added, “Honestly, it crossed my mind maybe I need to reach out to Alanis Morissette in case she ever wants to do another version of ‘Ironic’.”
Seeking Safety, Met with Violence
The attack on Calhoun comes amid growing concerns over increasing violence against transgender individuals, especially trans women of color, across the United States. For many like Calhoun, cities like Washington, D.C., are seen as safe havens compared to more hostile environments in the South or Midwest.
Instead, the violence she fled found her once again—this time on the steps of some of America’s most iconic landmarks.
A Call for Justice and Awareness
Though she has survived the attack, the emotional and physical toll remains heavy. Her face and body were battered nearly beyond recognition. Calhoun’s story has since spread through advocacy channels, calling attention not only to the violence she endured but also to the broader threats transgender individuals face, even in cities that claim to be inclusive.
Authorities are investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made as of yet. Calhoun and LGBTQ+ advocates are urging witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
Resilience in the Face of Hate
Despite the trauma, Calhoun’s spirit remains intact. Her humor and resilience shine through as she recovers, though she’s acutely aware of the danger she and others like her continue to face.
“I moved here for safety,” she said. “Now, I just want justice—and I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did.”
The attack on Cayla Calhoun is not just a singular incident—it is a sobering reminder of the ongoing violence and discrimination facing transgender people in America, regardless of location. As her story gains national attention, it becomes part of a louder call for change, justice, and the right to live freely without fear.
Leave a Reply