If you haven’t read about the Angie Zapata case, I highly encourage you to do so. Angie Zapata was an 18 year old transgender woman from Greeley, Colorado, who was brutally murdered by Allen Ray Andrade.
The trial of Andrade marks the first time that Colorado’s gender identity-inclusive hate crimes statute has been applied in the investigation and prosecution of an anti-transgender murder case. Eleven states along with the District of Columbia include gender identity as a protected class in hate-crime laws.
This case highlights the need to include transgender and gays as protected classes in federal hate crime laws. Current federal hate crime law does not include sexual orientation or gender identity. The Matthew Shepard Act would change existing law to include transgender and gay people. Hate crimes aren’t directed simply at individuals, but are committed to frighten entire classes of people.
Back in December, we blogged about the death of Jose Sucuzhañay, who had been walking arm-in-arm with his brother and was beaten with a bat, while being called anti-Hispanic and anti-gay slurs. Fortunately, NY has inclusive LGBT hate crime laws, but a majority of states in the union do not.
Angie Zapata’s death was senseless, but I think that it is worth highlighting because of a perceived intolerance by some of gays and transgender people within the Latino community. LGBT youth of color bear additional burdens of dealing with their sexuality, racism, and homophobic attitudes. A Report by Advocates for Youth found that youth of color are less likely to come out of the closet to their parents than their white counterparts. While Angie Zapata’s family was supportive and loving of her, many gay and transgender members of our community still feel unwelcomed or afraid to live their lives openly. We of all communities should be understanding of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters. Sexual orientation and gender identity issues come in all colors, and perhaps had Andrade been a little more sensitive to this issue, he would not be facing a first degree murder trial. So I encourage you to light a candle for Angie, and let’s hope that justice is served in this case.
I also want to add that this particular youtube and online mobilization effort to bring awareness to Angie’s case is one of the best uses of new media tools that I have seen involving Latinos. Angie’s familia has availed themselves to bringing justice for their sister. Let’s help them out by encouraging others to blog about this case, the Matthew Shepard Act, and to watch this short video.
9 responses so far ↓
1 wendy carrillo // Apr 19, 2009 at 4:42 pm
yep. heard this story on Free Speech Radio News on KPFK a few days ago.
So much hate in this world. pointless to take a human life like that.
Colorado is moving in the right direction.
– currently in San Francisco’s Castro District.
Life here for the LGBTQ community is much safer than other parts of the country, but it shouldn’t be the only place where one can be free.
2 wendy carrillo // Apr 19, 2009 at 4:45 pm
*** I meant Colorado is moving in the right direction by prosecuting this as a Hate Crime.
3 kelli Busey // Apr 20, 2009 at 2:00 am
Thank you for posting your article. We [lgbt] bloggers committed ourselves to make public Angie’s trial. Autumn Sandeen from Pam’s House Blend is in Greeley live tweeting and micro blogging. All across the country we are shouting out for justice . To follow twitter search #zapata for updates.
4 Michaelr // Apr 20, 2009 at 2:30 pm
More proof that the machismo mentality works the same way as Network television does on your brain.
5 Mexitli // Apr 20, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I feel sorry for Angie Zapata. My condolences to her family.
But I do not see how this is a hate crime or how the murder was premeditated.
He didnt lie in wait for her.
“…perhaps had Andrade been a little more sensitive to this issue, he would not be facing a first degree murder trial.”
Perhaps if she had told him she was transgender she would still be alive.
6 webmaster // Apr 20, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Mexitli,
It has been reported that Andrade called Angie an “it” and told police “that all things gay need to die.”
The evidence shows that she had told him that she was transgender, but even if she hadn’t, that still is no reason for her to be brutally killed.
7 Mexitli // Apr 20, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I agree she didnt deserve to die like that.
I read just the first part of the L.A. Times article. My son was calling so I had to log off.
Please do not get the impression that I am defending Andrade. But the “it” remark could possibly be expalineed by his ignorance and confusion. After all, he was being interrogated and facing stiff charges for a terrible crime.
I’m just saying.
Still, 1st degree murder is premeditation. The prosecution would have to prove Andrade went to her apt. with intent to kill her.
So if he knew beforehand (by the traffic court appearance) that she was transgender does that then trigger first degree murder? Only if he planned to kill her.
“GREELEY, Colo. — A man accused of beating a transgendered victim to death after he learned that the “woman” he was having sex with actually had a penis told his girlfriend in a phone call that he had “snapped” and that “gay things need to die,” according to the Greeley Tribune.”
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17506729/detail.html
This is actually “Hearsay.”
but then, anything Andrade says to his GF after the fact is basically self serving.
8 Mexitli // Apr 22, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Well, if anyone’s interested…
Andrade was found guilty of murder 1 and a hate crime.
9 Latinos Attack Gay White Man in Queens, NY - Cockroach People // Oct 15, 2009 at 8:57 am
[...] the guys who murdered Matthew Shepard? White guys. Latinos get bashed too–remember Angie Zapata, the transgender Latina murdered last year in Colorado. My point is that I hope the LGBT activist [...]
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