My Blog

The news of another vicious attack on a transgender woman durring the peak of Pride month once again re-inforced in me the challenges ahead of us. (image source)

As i walked the Pride parade route down 5th avenue, I couldn't help but think of our transgender brothers and sisters who were not there to march with us. While there were times when I just wanted to stop walking, i began to think about Leslie Mora, a beautiful transgender woman brutally attacked on June 19th by two men who beat her with a belt as her assailants called her faggot in Spanish. The attack left Leslie with multiple injuries and she was found nearly naked and bleeding on the sidewalk. I was disgusted by the news and my Pride festivities were marred by the brutality of this hate crime.

Hate crimes against the transgender community continue at an alarming rate. Even within our own LGBT community, transgender people are perhaps the least understood. Growing up, i witnessed many of my own transgender friends be targeted for hate violence based on their nonconformity with gender norms and/or their percieved sexual orientation. Anti-transgender hate crimes continue to be under-reported, often because there is doubt that local authorities will treat them with respect or investigate the crime. Or, there is a fear that exposure as a transgender person will jeopardize their jobs, housing or relationships with friends and family.

But we....I, can't be silent about this! The perpetrators must be brought to justice and the Queens DA must investigate as a hate crime. These punks tend to attack in groups and are cowards, and so we must also stand together to speak up and fight back. The transgender community is part of my community and family. In an earlier post, "Celebrating Pride" I asked, "why do you march?". I march for Leslie Mora, Sanesha Stweart, Nakhia Williams, Ashley Sweeney, Angie Zapata, Lawrence King, Simmie Williams, Ebony Whitaker, Rita Hester, Brandon Teena and many others who have been murdered for being transgender.
(to learn more about them click here)

Transgender Day of Rememberance, was started by activist Gwen Smith, as a day which marks the many lives lost in the transgender community due to hatred and bias.

Hate crimes against anyone in our community is intolerable, join me in doing your part in doing something about it. Speak up and stand up! and protect each other.