Transphobia in Mexico and America
Handbook of intolerance
We have been nurturing the handbook of intolerance and tranphobia some time ago; however, we are not the only ones who have closely followed this terrible list of deaths, pain and injustice to the trans and LGBT community in general. We’ve received some shocking information from Mexico and we are still on this fight in order not to forget them all. The handbook has been increased by recent cases in Peru, which has been described as a wave of gay’s murders. This is a list that opens the bleeding wound.
Rocio Suarez
Activist of Transvestites in Mexico
Can you die for love? This is the main assumption that the authorities handled in the investigations of gays, lesbians, transvestites and transsexuals murders: the crime of passion.
Crimes in the majority of cases are made with cruelty and brutality. They are unpunished crimes, only showed in a red note of the newspapers. They are invisible victims that can not claim for Justice, so we only tell their life stories.
Is it a death for love? It is basically just the opposite, hate crimes. I have been writing a brief report of the murders committed against transvestites, transsexuals and transgender fellow in America in these two years. All these stories published on the Internet with their limitations, give us a sample of the situation. The most important thing is to remember them, to make them visible, because some of them may be as unknown people in the common grave.
Despite the fact that they are dead, they are still discriminated by the media, the investigation authorities and his family.
American Data
130 registered cases / found on the Internet, from 19 American countries from 2007 to 2009. We don’t have information from other countries, agencies or departments, which does not indicate that there will be no such cases of extreme violence. We have 75% of cases in four countries: Mexico, with 29 murders, 25 cases in the United States, 15 in Brazil, 13 in Colombia and 10 in Argentina.
The age average of victims is 27 years old. Forty seven cases are fully named with names and last names, in 55 cases they only show their names and 28 are listed as unknown.
Picture in Mexico, 2007-2009
There are 29 cases on the Internet in 16 states. They are geographically organized as follows: 11 in the Central Area (Guanajuato is the state with more national crimes with 5 cases), 9 in the Northern Area (4 cases in the boundary between Monterrey and Coahuila), 3 in the West Zone, 3 in the Gulf Zone 3 and the South.
From the 29 victims, the newspaper reports14 as unknown, 9 as identified with full names, and only 6 with names. There are almost 50% of them as unknown. Their age average is 30 years old.
The Citizens Commission Against Hate Crimes Homophobia reported 3 monthly murders of LGTTTB people in the country in 2005. They say that almost 400 crimes, from 95 to 2005, 98 percent are unpunished.
The data of this report has been sent to the NHRC, who intends to start an investigation to file a document about how the ministerial authorities have conducted researches of these crimes and to identify omissions in the work of the Public Ministry, which could have been motivated by the homophobia.
There is a lot to be done. Recognizing the stigma and discrimination is the response for a patriarchal and sexist society that we live in. We can not kill only with a weapon; we can also kill if refusing equal rights and opportunities for others. Fr that reason, it is also important to include plans and programs at all levels of education about sexuality, Permanent public campaigns against discrimination, strengthening tools of the responsible institutions that fight against discrimination and protect human rights: Programs of social inclusion in education, employment and health. Inserting the concept of “hate crimes" into the Criminal Codes.
We also have responsibility on this. We must develop a citizenship that monitors, evaluates and engages in public policy, demanding the clarification and punishment of these crimes. We must report the abuse of authorities and individuals who violate our rights, and support each other in our community. We have to be visible to tear down the prejudice and stigma.
In their honor ... Tejerina, Leguiza, Prado, Mariana, Jessica, Araujo, Maicon, Osvan, Evelin, katlyn, Alexa, Julianna, Fernanda, Jennifer, Donaire Moria, Graciela C., Alejandra, Josefa Hernandez, Darling, Kassandra, Maria Luisa Perea , Estrella, Darlyn, Erika, Willis, Veronica, HOLDERS AND HOLSTERS, Jessica, Yuri, Carlina, JJ Mejias, Natahly, F. Soto, E. Padilla, R. Martinez Nakian Ladelle, Ruby Rodriguez, Erica Keel, Bret T. Tuner, Victoria Arellano, O. Mosqueda, Maribelle Reyes, Brean McGlothin, Stacy bros, Patrick Murphy, Simons Adulfhus, Sweeney Ashley, Saneas Stewart, Lawrence King, Simmie, Lloyd Nixon, F. Pineda Franco, Ebony Whitaker, Jaylyn Namauu, Angie Zapata, Karolina, Nikki Williams, Ruby Molina Aimee Wilconson, Duanna Johnson, Lateisha Green, Karolina, Carlota, Denis, J, W. Sorto, Pamela, Lula, Yazmín, Noelia, Cinthia Nocolle, Axel, T. Hernandez, Aline, Claudia, L.A. Notario, E. Callado Hernandez, Rubi, Meche Lagunas, A. Avalos Hernandez, Felicia Nelton, Alexa, Adriana Fonseca, A. Valeriano Ramirez, Tina, J. Benitez Garcia, A. Hernandez, Balbina, Cosi, Sandy, Bresia Mejia, Olga, Dayana Nicole, Marcela, M. Salazar, Lupe, J.E, F. A. Gonzalez, A. Triana, Carolina T. Mendoza, Sasha Estefanía ... And for ourselves ...
Anyone else!
Mexico City, May 15, 2009
