Family of Missing Woman Reveals Transgender Identity Amid Search Efforts

Colette Seymore, the mother of Taylor Casey, an American woman missing since June 19 during a yoga retreat in the Bahamas, has disclosed that her daughter is transgender. Seymore explained that this detail was withheld initially, fearing it might divert attention from the urgent search efforts.

Since Casey's disappearance, Seymore, along with a committed group of friends and supporters, has been tirelessly working to locate her daughter. They have leveraged multiple social media platforms, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to finance legal assistance, and issued comprehensive press releases regarding Casey’s disappearance. The decision to reveal Casey’s gender identity came only recently, in a bid to transparently share all pertinent information related to the case.

"The primary focus must remain on finding my child, a missing American citizen, rather than on Taylor being transgender," Seymore emphasized, expressing concerns about potential media distractions that could overshadow the search efforts.

Seymore expressed disappointment in the perceived disparity in investigative efforts based on race and gender identity, believing that if Casey were white and cisgender, the response might have been more robust. She voiced frustration with the handling of the case by local authorities, despite their acknowledgment of Casey's transgender status.

According to Seymore and close friend Emily Williams, local authorities in the Bahamas investigating Casey's disappearance have not found evidence suggesting foul play. However, they pointed to alarming statistics from LGBTQ advocacy groups, highlighting disproportionately high rates of violence against transgender individuals worldwide, particularly in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean.

Casey, 41, was participating in a yoga instructor program at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas on Paradise Island when she vanished. While her cellphone was recovered from the ocean near the retreat, her passport remains missing, complicating efforts to trace her movements.

The Sivananda Ashram, situated near the Atlantis resort, is known for its upscale location but has come under scrutiny from Casey's family and friends. They allege receiving inconsistent information from ashram staff regarding the timeline of Casey's disappearance and assert that efforts to gather information from other retreat participants were obstructed.

Despite ongoing efforts by Seymore and Williams to involve American authorities, including engaging with the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas and seeking assistance from lawmakers in Illinois, they have encountered challenges in obtaining additional support for the search for Casey.

On what would have been Casey's 42nd birthday, her family and supporters plan to host a press conference in Chicago to sustain public awareness and advocate for her safe return.

"We love you, Taylor. We miss you dearly and want you home," Seymore tearfully expressed.

The disappearance of Taylor Casey has sparked widespread concern and calls for a thorough investigation, underscoring ongoing issues of safety and inclusivity for transgender individuals, both in the Bahamas and globally.