PITTSBURGH - The family of a murdered Sharon teenager is taking part in Wednesday’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance that honors transgender people whose lives were lost to violence.

The focus falls on demanding action from law enforcement and the Pennsylvania General Assembly for the unsolved murder of Amariey Lei and the upcoming trial for the man suspected of killing Pauly Likens.

Pauly Likens, a 14-year-old transgender girl from Sharon, was murdered and sexually assaulted in Mercer County in June 2024. A suspect is in custody awaiting trial in 2025.

Amariey Lei, a 19-year-old transgender woman from Pittsburgh, was found shot and killed in Wilkinsburg in January 2022. No arrests have been made in her case.

A press conference will be held on Wednesday morning at the Pittsburgh City-County Building. Jen McClure, mother of Pauly Likens, along with the family of Amariey Lei and LGBTQ advocates, will demand action from law enforcement and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Pennsylvania does not have an LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes law. The families are urging the US Attorney's office and Allegheny County Police to act and for the General Assembly to pass hate crimes legislation that protects LGBTQ individuals.

Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed in 1998. The day has become an annual tradition to remember all transgender people lost to violence.