Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mallery Jenna Robinson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mallery Jenna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

A Hateful Homicide was created in response to the increasing murders, hate crimes, and hate incidents of Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex, and Two-Spirit community members in the United States and abroad. The media representation that oftentimes blames the victim for their hateful homicide simply for existing for who they are especially our most marginalized and impacted Black and Brown, AANHPI, Indigenous trans people.

Mallery Jenna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A Hateful Homicide is the only true crime and investigative journalism podcast and YouTube series and since launching in 2021 A Hateful Homicide has produced 5 seasons available on iHeart Radio, Audible, Amazon Music, Apple and Spotify Podcasts as well as our website ahatefulhomicide.net to learn more about our beautiful victims and raise awareness on the violence our TGI2+ community members.

A Hateful Homicide has been invited to multiple conferences, festivals, and pride events throughout the entire United States and we will continue to show up and take space to assure our victims who are no longer here have a voice and are represented.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal behind A Hateful Homicide is to shed light on the often overlooked and underreported violence faced by the transgender community, particularly those who are missing or murdered due to hate crimes. Transgender individuals, especially transgender women of color, face disproportionate rates of violence, and mainstream media frequently fails to give their stories the attention they deserve.

This investigative journalism series seeks to fill that gap by focusing on these tragedies, bringing them into the public conversation, and advocating for justice and greater awareness. It’s not just about documenting these crimes; it’s about amplifying the voices of the victims, their families, and communities, and working toward systemic change. Through in-depth reporting and thorough investigation, the show aims to hold perpetrators accountable, encourage more accurate and empathetic media coverage, and raise awareness about the broader issues of transphobia, discrimination, and violence against transgender people.

Ultimately, A Hateful Homicide seeks to create a space where the transgender community’s experiences are acknowledged, the victims’ lives are honored, and urgent actions are taken to address the ongoing crisis of hate-motivated violence.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The tragic murder of Melanie Bennett in 2011 was indeed a powerful and deeply impactful catalyst for the creation of A Hateful Homicide. Melanie, a 21-year-old Black transgender woman from Montgomery, Alabama, was brutally killed in what authorities initially tried to categorize as a robbery gone wrong. However, there was a significant outcry from the transgender community and allies, as the case highlighted the persistent and deadly risks faced by transgender individuals, particularly those at the intersection of race and gender identity.

The failure to fully acknowledge the possibility that Melanie’s murder was a hate crime, along with the lack of media coverage or thorough investigation, underscored a troubling trend: the systemic neglect and marginalization of transgender victims of violence. Melanie’s case exemplified how often transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color, are targeted not just by perpetrators of violence, but also by a broader societal disregard for their lives, dignity, and rights.

This sense of injustice—both in the way the case was handled and the larger pattern of transphobic violence—spurred the creation of A Hateful Homicide. The show was designed not only to bring attention to cases like Melanie’s, but also to provide a platform for victims whose stories have too often been ignored or silenced. By focusing on these stories, A Hateful Homicide aims to break the silence around transgender hate crimes and murder, fight against the erasure of trans lives, and demand accountability from both the justice system and society at large.

Melanie Bennett’s story, along with countless others, serves as a stark reminder of why visibility, justice, and advocacy are so crucial for the transgender community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ahatefulhomicide.net
• Instagram: ahatefulhomicide
• Facebook: A Hateful Homicide
• Linkedin: malleryjennarobinson
• Twitter: ahatefulhomicid
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ahatefulhomicide?si=BpcBOVa06d3Bqx2p