Tyler Flanagan, a lifelong resident of Nashville and a transgender woman who came out five years ago, was physically attacked last week in what she describes as a shocking and traumatic experience that has left her shaken.
Flanagan and a friend were moving items at the Extra Space Storage facility on Charlotte Avenue on May 30 when they encountered employees from Black Tie Moving. Initially seeking help from a storage unit employee, they approached the movers to ask if they worked at the facility. According to Flanagan, the response was a barrage of homophobic slurs and hostility. Despite asking the workers to back off, the harassment continued.
Fearing for their safety, Flanagan and her friend requested an escort from the facility manager to their car, which was parked near the moving truck. The manager declined, leaving them to navigate the tense situation alone. “Those are situations that some people like myself don’t make it out of,” Flanagan told WSMV4. “There’s a large percentage of people like myself who die from situations like this.”
As the pair tried to leave, the men continued to shout slurs at them. When Flanagan and her friend returned to the office to file a complaint, one of the Black Tie Moving employees entered the lobby and struck Flanagan across the face. The entire incident was captured on security footage obtained by Flanagan.
“I felt he’d approach me and try to intimidate me, not physically assault me,” she said. “I was in utter shock. Thank god I had my friend Taylor with me to pull me to safety.”
The Specialized Investigations Division of the Metro Nashville Police Department has taken over the case after officers reviewed the security footage at the scene.
Following the incident, Black Tie Moving confirmed to WSMV4 that they terminated the employee involved and are cooperating fully with police. “Security footage captures a physical altercation that is deeply troubling and entirely unacceptable,” the company stated.
Extra Space Storage also confirmed that it turned over the footage to police and expressed its support for the victim, noting that the property has security features like video surveillance, but no on-site security staff.
Since the assault, Flanagan has had multiple hospital visits to treat injuries to her neck and hand. She decided to post the video on social media, where it has been viewed more than one million times. While she has received support, she has also faced hateful messages. She emphasized that her post was not to seek sympathy but to raise awareness.
“We’re human beings and we just want to live happy lives and be respected,” she said.
The attack has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from local leaders. Metro Councilmember At-Large Olivia Hill, Nashville’s first openly transgender councilmember, said the incident does not reflect the city she knows. “Just to know a regular trans woman is just there at a place and something like that happens is shocking and horrible,” Hill said.
The Metro Nashville Council’s LGBTQ Caucus released a statement calling for urgent action. “Transphobia is not just hate—it is violence,” they said. “We urge our fellow elected leaders, community members, and allies to join us, not just in words, but in actions.”
The investigation remains ongoing. TransVitae will continue to follow this story as it develops.
Sources: WSMV4 coverage of the incident and statements from Black Tie Moving and Extra Space Storage.
