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Trans man with Asperger’s shot and killed by police in Arizona

Trans man with Asperger’s shot and killed by police in Arizona
Kayden Clarke, a transgender man with Asperger’s from Arizona who gained notoriety on YouTube after posting a video of his service dog, was killed by police responding to a call that he was threatening suicide. Authorities say Clarke lunged at them with a knife.

The 24-year-old’s video went viral last June. It showed Clarke weeping and punching herself in the chest until her dog intervenes, jumps up to block the blows, and comforts him. Clarke said he posted the video to raise awareness about Asperger’s and autism.

Clarke also posted videos documenting his gender transition and talking about his struggles with the mental heath care system. In December he posted a video titled “Fantastic news!”, telling his followers that his insurance company would pay the cost of gender reassignment surgery. But a video posted a month ago expressed frustration with Arizona’s mental health care system and his difficulties finding a therapist who could deal with both his gender identity and Asperger’s issues.

“I’ve never met a bunch of mental health professionals who are completely fucking morons,” Clarke said. “Nobody seems to know what the fuck Asperger’s is, and it’s frustrating. If anyone in Arizona is listening, please guide me.”

Mesa police authorities have repeatedly misgendered Clarke in their statements to the press and say they were unaware that he had mental issues. They claim two officers were talking to Clarke through an open door in a hallway when the man lunged at them with a knife. Police were called by a friend of Clarke’s who let them into the home.

While the two officers talked to Clarke, a third went back to his car to obtain a “less than lethal” bean-bag shotgun. Before the officer could return, police say Clarke became agressive.

“At that point they felt their lives were threatened,” Detective Estaban Flores said. Both police officers fired their guns.

Clarke’s mother, Stacia Jacobs, also misgendered the newly transitioning Clarke in her remarks to KPHO, but expressed concern and outrage that police would shoot and kill a mentally ill individual.

“My daughter died for asking for help,” she said Friday. “She was in her own place. And regardless of what she was thinking, what she was doing, she wasn’t posing a danger to the community. There has to be better way for law enforcement to respond and handle situations.”

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