MEDIA CONTACT:
Inga Sarda-Sorensen
Director of Communications
(Office) 646.358.1463
(Cell) 202.641.5592
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds House Judiciary Committee passage of hate crimes legislation
WASHINGTON, April 23 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds the House Judiciary Committee’s passage today of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1913), which includes a key provision that would expand existing federal hate crimes law to include crimes motivated by actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. The measure has previously passed both chambers on several occasions. The Task Force has a long history in working to secure hate crimes protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Get more details here.
Complete Statement at The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
4/23/09
By John Wright News Editor
Apr 23, 2009 - 6:54:31 PM
Trans advocate Kelli Busey says some officials still resistant to nondiscrimination despite policy
The Bridge, Dallas’ city-owned homeless shelter, recently put in writing a nondiscrimination policy stating that transgender clients will be housed according to their gender identity and not their biological sex.
But a transgender activist from Dallas who helped initiate the new written policy said she isn’t satisfied with it.
Full story at the Dallas Voice
http://tinyurl.com/cvg8hv
Apr 23, 2009 - 6:54:31 PM
Trans advocate Kelli Busey says some officials still resistant to nondiscrimination despite policy
The Bridge, Dallas’ city-owned homeless shelter, recently put in writing a nondiscrimination policy stating that transgender clients will be housed according to their gender identity and not their biological sex.
But a transgender activist from Dallas who helped initiate the new written policy said she isn’t satisfied with it.
Full story at the Dallas Voice
http://tinyurl.com/cvg8hv
Zapata Family Speaks
Flanked by his sisters, Ashley Zapata, Stephanie Villalobos and Monica Murguia, and his mother, Maria Zapata, Gonzalo Zapata issued a statement about the trial to the media Wednesday. The family did not answer questions.
The statement:
“Angie was my sister.
“She was a member of our family. We loved her very much, and we will miss her every day. Every day and every night our mom has to deal with great pain of ... one of her babies being buried. Every day our siblings and I reach for the phone and realize we’ll never hear her voice. There’s no answer anymore.
“A part of our family is missing, stolen from us. Angie was 18, her life was just beginning. She was brave, she had guts, she had courage, and she was beautiful, fun and loving. She was our little sister.
“Through the last week, we’ve watched as our sister Angie was lied about in court, angrily as the defense presented an image of my sister that wasn’t true. Their strategy of tearing down my sister to make a monster look better will not work.
“It is clear: Angie was our sister, an aunt and a daughter. Life was sometimes difficult for her, and we learned along with her to understand she was born a girl with a body that was wrong for her.
“Above all else, she was honest. It took such courage to be who she was. She was strong, there was no reason to believe my sister was anything but strong and honest with everyone.
“This week, we are deeply saddened as we witnessed graphic details about the last few minutes of my sister’s life. A big brother is supposed to protect his little sister. It breaks my heart to think there was nothing I could do.
“My sisters, Monica and Ashley, when they saw what this monster had done, they wanted to hold her, to comfort her and make her feel better. It was hard to realize nothing could have been done.
“He stole something so precious from us.
“Only a monster can look at a beautiful 18-year-old and beat her to death. This monster not only hit my sister, but continued to beat her head in over and over and over until her head was crushed in. He left her there to die.
“He’ll (never) understand how angry we are at him and how much he has hurt us. This past week and half, we’ve seen attorneys working their hardest to seek justice for my sister. ...
“We are grateful Colorado has tough laws that make it clear that attacking people because of anti-gender bias will be taken seriously. It will be prosecuted aggressively ... in Weld County.
...
“In memory of Angie, we call on Colorado’s leaders to pass a federal hate crime law to protect everyone.
“Justice was achieved. A message was sent loud and clear that crimes target ing LGBT will not be tolerated in Colorado ...
“Remember her as we do, as a beautiful, wonderful, precious teenager. She would want us to remember the happy times in her life. And make the world a better place.
“We will always love you Angie and we will always miss you, mija.
“Thank you!”
Posted on the The Tribune
New Links @@@@@@@@@@@@@
Click here to take action.
http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kelli@yahoo.com
center
center
http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kelli@yahoo.com
Garden State Residents Urgent Please Call These Legislators Today!
URGENT PLEASE ACT!
Starting at 9:30 am TODAY, Thursday, April 23, 2009, we ask each of you, no matter where in New Jersey you live, to call the 3 legislators listed below to tell their offices: "Today, Quinnipiac came out with a poll showing New Jersey favors marriage equality. The Senator needs to support the bill strongly. If New Jersey is for it and it's the correct thing to do, what's the problem?" It can be in your own words, but make sure you mention it's a Quinnipiac Poll (pronounced Quinn-uh-PEE-ack), a highly respected independent poll. You may hear, "you're not in the Senator's district" or "the bill won't come up until later this year, so why are you calling now?" Please stick with it. We recently had a legislator ask us, has there been an independent poll in your favor?
Senate President Dick Codey at (973) 731-6770
Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney at (856) 251-9801
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo at (201) 804-8118
If you’re told by the office you’re not a constituent: “I’m calling your office because the Senator holds a leadership position that impacts the entire state.”If you hear anything substantive in your conversations - something beyond thank you or we’ll record your views - let us know by emailing us at http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Contact@GardenStateEquality.org. Include which legislative office you spoke with, what the office said, as well as your own name and hometown.Your activism makes all the difference in the world to tell our side of the story.On behalf of the entire Garden State Equality Board and staff, please accept our deepest gratitude. And please forward this email to all the people you know so they call too - today, Thursday.
Visit Garden State Equality's two websites, http://www.gardenstateequality.org/ and http://www.civilunionsdontwork.com/ Tell-a-friend!
Senate President Dick Codey at (973) 731-6770
Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney at (856) 251-9801
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo at (201) 804-8118
If you’re told by the office you’re not a constituent: “I’m calling your office because the Senator holds a leadership position that impacts the entire state.”If you hear anything substantive in your conversations - something beyond thank you or we’ll record your views - let us know by emailing us at http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Contact@GardenStateEquality.org. Include which legislative office you spoke with, what the office said, as well as your own name and hometown.Your activism makes all the difference in the world to tell our side of the story.On behalf of the entire Garden State Equality Board and staff, please accept our deepest gratitude. And please forward this email to all the people you know so they call too - today, Thursday.
Visit Garden State Equality's two websites, http://www.gardenstateequality.org/ and http://www.civilunionsdontwork.com/ Tell-a-friend!
4/22/09
Andrade guilty of first-degree murder
Allen Ray Andrade has been found guilty of first degree murder the sentencing is mandated in Colorado to be life imprisonment without parole.
Source: Greeley Tribune
The jury took just two hours to convict Andrade, 32, of Thornton of first-degree murder, a bias-motivated crime, motor vehicle theft and identity theft. The trial began last week.
A chorus of muffled sobs came from Angie Zapata’s family as the verdict was read.
Full original story at Greeley Tribune
Source: Greeley Tribune
The jury took just two hours to convict Andrade, 32, of Thornton of first-degree murder, a bias-motivated crime, motor vehicle theft and identity theft. The trial began last week.
A chorus of muffled sobs came from Angie Zapata’s family as the verdict was read.
Full original story at Greeley Tribune
ANDRADE GUILTY of FIRST DEGREE MURDER RECIVES LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITH NO CHANCE OF PAROLE
Autumn Sandeen reports that "Andrade is GUILTY of 1st degree murder of Angie Zapata."
Andrade is GUILTY of 1st degree murder of Angie Zapata. GUILTY on count two on bias motivated crime. GUILTY on vehicle theft and identity theft. Follow Autumn's Tweets from the courtroom; streaming video here. The Blend Chat Room is open. Click here to hop in. -->
GUILTY! We have a verdict in the Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder Trial: GUILTY! (+)
by: Autumn Sandeen
Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 16:54:58 PM EDT [unsubscribe]
Update: Allen Ray Zapata is guilty 1st Degree Murder, and guilty of the bias motivated crime count. Guilty on vehicle theft and identity theft.
At 4:00 PM MDT, he will be sentenced to life without parole.
We have JUSTICE FOR ANGIE!!!!!!!
After only two hours the jury has returned with a verdict of premeditated murder in the brutal slaying of transgender woman Angie Zapata.
Andrade is GUILTY of 1st degree murder of Angie Zapata. GUILTY on count two on bias motivated crime. GUILTY on vehicle theft and identity theft. Follow Autumn's Tweets from the courtroom; streaming video here. The Blend Chat Room is open. Click here to hop in. -->
GUILTY! We have a verdict in the Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder Trial: GUILTY! (+)
by: Autumn Sandeen
Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 16:54:58 PM EDT [unsubscribe]
Update: Allen Ray Zapata is guilty 1st Degree Murder, and guilty of the bias motivated crime count. Guilty on vehicle theft and identity theft.
At 4:00 PM MDT, he will be sentenced to life without parole.
We have JUSTICE FOR ANGIE!!!!!!!
After only two hours the jury has returned with a verdict of premeditated murder in the brutal slaying of transgender woman Angie Zapata.
Colorado Anti-Violence Program Media Advisory: Zapata Family Information
Colorado Anti-Violence Program, CO, USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Colorado Anti-Violence Program Announces
Zapata Family and CAVP will make statements
Greeley, CO - April 22, 2009
BACKGROUND: The prosecution and defense teams have rested their cases in the trial of Allen Ray Andrade, who is accused of killing Angie Zapata in her Greeley apartment last July. Closing arguments are expected Wednesday morning and the case will likely go to the jury around noon.
WHAT: The family of Angie Zapata will not comment about the verdict immediately after it is returned but will make a statement shortly thereafter. The Colorado Anti-Violence Program will respond to the verdict immediately following the family's statement.
WHEN: Approximately one-half hour after the verdict is announced.
WHERE: The announcement will be made in the lobby outside of Courtroom 11 where the trial has occurred.WHY: "This is an emotionally difficult time for the family," said Kelly Costello, director of advocacy for the Colorado Anti-Violence Program. "For that reason, the family has requested their privacy be respected immediately after the verdict. They ask that the media please be present for their statement and recognize that that will be their only statement for the day."About Colorado Anti-Violence Program Colorado Anti-Violence Program has been dedicated to eliminating violence within and against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,and queer communities in Colorado, and providing the highest quality services to survivors since 1986. CAVP provides direct services including crisis intervention, information, and referrals for LGBTQ victims of violence 24 hours a day. The CAVP also provides technical assistance, training, and education for community organizations, law enforcement, and mainstream service providers on violence issues affecting the LGBTQ community. The most common types of violence they respond to are hate crimes and partner abuse, as well as cases that involve random violence, sexual assault, and HIV-motivated violence.
LGBTQ victims of crimes or those who have witnessed a crime are encouraged to call our 24 hour free and confidential hotline at303-852-5094 or 1-888-557-4441 or visit our website at
http://www.coavp. org/.
Colorado Anti-Violence Program Crystal Middlestadt Director of Training and Education
303-204-5245 Cell
Colorado Anti-Violence Program
Kelly Costello Director of Advocacy303-861-0246 Cell
Colorado Anti-Violence Program P.O. Box 181085 Denver CO 80218www.coavp.org/
__._,_.___
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Colorado Anti-Violence Program Announces
Zapata Family and CAVP will make statements
Greeley, CO - April 22, 2009
BACKGROUND: The prosecution and defense teams have rested their cases in the trial of Allen Ray Andrade, who is accused of killing Angie Zapata in her Greeley apartment last July. Closing arguments are expected Wednesday morning and the case will likely go to the jury around noon.
WHAT: The family of Angie Zapata will not comment about the verdict immediately after it is returned but will make a statement shortly thereafter. The Colorado Anti-Violence Program will respond to the verdict immediately following the family's statement.
WHEN: Approximately one-half hour after the verdict is announced.
WHERE: The announcement will be made in the lobby outside of Courtroom 11 where the trial has occurred.WHY: "This is an emotionally difficult time for the family," said Kelly Costello, director of advocacy for the Colorado Anti-Violence Program. "For that reason, the family has requested their privacy be respected immediately after the verdict. They ask that the media please be present for their statement and recognize that that will be their only statement for the day."About Colorado Anti-Violence Program Colorado Anti-Violence Program has been dedicated to eliminating violence within and against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,and queer communities in Colorado, and providing the highest quality services to survivors since 1986. CAVP provides direct services including crisis intervention, information, and referrals for LGBTQ victims of violence 24 hours a day. The CAVP also provides technical assistance, training, and education for community organizations, law enforcement, and mainstream service providers on violence issues affecting the LGBTQ community. The most common types of violence they respond to are hate crimes and partner abuse, as well as cases that involve random violence, sexual assault, and HIV-motivated violence.
LGBTQ victims of crimes or those who have witnessed a crime are encouraged to call our 24 hour free and confidential hotline at303-852-5094 or 1-888-557-4441 or visit our website at
http://www.coavp. org/.
Colorado Anti-Violence Program Crystal Middlestadt Director of Training and Education
303-204-5245 Cell
Colorado Anti-Violence Program
Kelly Costello Director of Advocacy303-861-0246 Cell
Colorado Anti-Violence Program P.O. Box 181085 Denver CO 80218www.coavp.org/
__._,_.___
Praying for Zapata's Family and Hoping Andrade Rots and Spends Life with Inmates who SEE who he IS
Alleged Murdered Allen Andrade sat remorseless in court while his defense lawyers slank to the deeps vile depths of scum inorder to mitigate down a possiable lie in prision for Andrade for the heinous death of transgender woman Angie Zapata.
He ate candy during the breaks.
I sit glued praying that Andrade pays with his life. Yes there is no official death penalty in Colorado.
Andrade should have to spend the rest of his earthly days the PREY of the convict justice system. In prison, rapists and pedophiles are made to have sex with by a man with HIV.
That's right, Justice for us. Let that man rot in hell. He an make room in hell for his defense lawyer while he's there.
He ate candy during the breaks.
I sit glued praying that Andrade pays with his life. Yes there is no official death penalty in Colorado.
Andrade should have to spend the rest of his earthly days the PREY of the convict justice system. In prison, rapists and pedophiles are made to have sex with by a man with HIV.
That's right, Justice for us. Let that man rot in hell. He an make room in hell for his defense lawyer while he's there.
New York Assembly Passes Genda : Now onto a Democratic Senate
By Kelli Busey April 22, 2009 planetransgender
One year ago Genda, a bill that would have afforded transgender New Yorkers protection against discrimination in housing, the workplace and would have amended the law to include transgender people as a protected class, passed the NY Assembly only to die in the the previously republican controlled Senate.
Genda has once again passed the lower legislative house and now moves forward to a vote in the Senate where a slim majority of law makers indicated approval offering it a better chance than last year.
According to civil rights leaders in New York, the marriage equality bill which was recently publicly endorsed by Governor David Paterson, will have a better chance of passing if the less controversial Genda Bill becomes law.
Found on the Web
Gay City News Assembly Again Approves Gender Rights Measure
"GENDA would bar bias based on gender identity and expression in employment, housing, public accommodations, and access to credit. It would also amend the 2000 hate crimes statute to include gender identity and expression as protected categories."
4/21/09
Obama : Torture is NOT Tolerated by America
Call to Action
Who: President Obama, the former Justice Department officials Jay Bybee, John Yoo and Steven Bradbury. Bybee is currently a judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Yoo is a professor at the University of California-Berkeley.
What : Charges of conspiracy to commit felonies, including torture be considered against among others Jay Bybee, John Yoo and Steven Bradbury and the goverment and contracted officials of the United Stared who participated in planning for and or committed criminal acts of torture.
When : NOW! Call on your legislative representatives to demand full transparency, accountability and justice.
Were : From your keyboard. Tell him now to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate Bush administration officials who authorized torture.
Why : He[Obama] said anew that CIA operatives who did the interrogating should not be charged with crimes because they thought they were following the law. Obama, so did HITLERS henchmen.
Obama would rather forget than pursue justiceUNLESS we force him to.
Americans are coming to realize that we were mislead by Obama's presidential promises and that we must act to keep all politicians honest.
Citizens, hold Obama accountable to his campaign commitment to end torture and prosecute those criminals who perpetrated and carried out act's that freedom loving democratic countries worldwide and formally the United States had decried as illegal torture.
Unresolved debate in DOJ memos: Does torture work? AP
How Waterboarding Got Out of Control Time.com
Obama defends secret memo release to CIA employees AP
Scientists Claim CIA Misused Work on Sleep Deprivation Time.com
Waterboarding: A Mental as Well as Physical Trauma, Expert Say Time.com
By Kelli Anne Busey, April 22, 2009 planetransgender
Who: President Obama, the former Justice Department officials Jay Bybee, John Yoo and Steven Bradbury. Bybee is currently a judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Yoo is a professor at the University of California-Berkeley.
What : Charges of conspiracy to commit felonies, including torture be considered against among others Jay Bybee, John Yoo and Steven Bradbury and the goverment and contracted officials of the United Stared who participated in planning for and or committed criminal acts of torture.
When : NOW! Call on your legislative representatives to demand full transparency, accountability and justice.
Were : From your keyboard. Tell him now to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate Bush administration officials who authorized torture.
Why : He[Obama] said anew that CIA operatives who did the interrogating should not be charged with crimes because they thought they were following the law. Obama, so did HITLERS henchmen.
Obama would rather forget than pursue justiceUNLESS we force him to.
Americans are coming to realize that we were mislead by Obama's presidential promises and that we must act to keep all politicians honest.
Citizens, hold Obama accountable to his campaign commitment to end torture and prosecute those criminals who perpetrated and carried out act's that freedom loving democratic countries worldwide and formally the United States had decried as illegal torture.
Unresolved debate in DOJ memos: Does torture work? AP
How Waterboarding Got Out of Control Time.com
Obama defends secret memo release to CIA employees AP
Scientists Claim CIA Misused Work on Sleep Deprivation Time.com
Waterboarding: A Mental as Well as Physical Trauma, Expert Say Time.com
By Kelli Anne Busey, April 22, 2009 planetransgender
Walking With Integrity: Write Congress
Cross Posted from Walking With Integrity: Write Congress
Please take action with Queers United action to Demand Hate Crimes Legislation http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2009/04/demand-national-hate-crimes-legislation.html
Please take action with Queers United action to Demand Hate Crimes Legislation http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2009/04/demand-national-hate-crimes-legislation.html
Andrade Murder Trial for the Death of Angie Zapata :" Jurors hear defendant’s jailhouse calls"
Jurors hear defendant’s jailhouse calls
Source CNN Side Bar by Beth Karas Posted: 10:40 PM ET
GREELEY, Colorado–Jurors heard from accused killer Allen Andrade today in recorded jailhouse calls with two former girlfriends, Angie Tyree and Felicia Mendoza. A cavalier-sounding Andrade said he “can’t cry over spilt milk” regarding the brutal killing of transgender teen, Angie Zapata, last July. That call and three others, recorded in the days after his July 30th arrest, gave some insight into Andrade’s reaction to his plight.
“It not like I went up to a schoolteacher and shot her in the head…or like I killed a law-abiding straight citizen,” he told Tyree. Andrade said he could do “10 or 15 [years]” but that he hoped not to be imprisoned forever. At one point, Tyree scolded him: “You should’ve stayed home.” His response: “I know I should’ve stayed. I should’ve done a lot of things differently…shoulda, coulda, woulda.” Though no longer dating, the two were living together for about three months at the time of Andrade’s arrest.
Full story at CNN sidebar by Beth Karas, In Session correspondent
Jurors hear defendant’s jailhouse calls
Source CNN Side Bar by Beth Karas Posted: 10:40 PM ET
GREELEY, Colorado–Jurors heard from accused killer Allen Andrade today in recorded jailhouse calls with two former girlfriends, Angie Tyree and Felicia Mendoza. A cavalier-sounding Andrade said he “can’t cry over spilt milk” regarding the brutal killing of transgender teen, Angie Zapata, last July. That call and three others, recorded in the days after his July 30th arrest, gave some insight into Andrade’s reaction to his plight.
“It not like I went up to a schoolteacher and shot her in the head…or like I killed a law-abiding straight citizen,” he told Tyree. Andrade said he could do “10 or 15 [years]” but that he hoped not to be imprisoned forever. At one point, Tyree scolded him: “You should’ve stayed home.” His response: “I know I should’ve stayed. I should’ve done a lot of things differently…shoulda, coulda, woulda.” Though no longer dating, the two were living together for about three months at the time of Andrade’s arrest.
Full story at CNN sidebar by Beth Karas, In Session correspondent
Jurors hear defendant’s jailhouse calls
Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder Trial: Pink Vibrator With Only Andrade's DNA Entered Into Evidence
Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder Trial: Pink Vibrator With Only Andrade's DNA Entered Into Evidence
by: Autumn Sandeen Originally posted Tue Apr 21, 2009 at 07:22:00 AM EDT on Pam's House Blend. Reposted with permission from Autumn Sandeen in an our effort to to bring national attention to the murder trial of Allen Ray Andrade for the death of Angie Zapata.
When I was a teen, I acted shamefully. I had a friend, who's name was Brett, who I ended up shunning when he came out as a gay teen. I was a closeted trans person who's church -- I was raised a Pentecostal. I didn't want to hang out with my effeminate gay friend because I was afraid people would be able to tell I was trans -- or believe I was gay -- if I was seen in the company of a gay peer.
As many of us remember doing, some of us in the gay community go beyond shunning when we were in the closet -- we were homophobic and transphobic bullies. We were the ones who were the worst at calling individually out lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans (LGBT) people, or gender variant people (effeminate males and masculine females) as "faggot," "fairy," "dyke," "it," and "that thing." Many of us, when we were closeted, were physically violent against those who were out as LGBT, or who were gender variant.
We were so often afraid of being discovered as LGBT ourselves that we called others names, and/or became physically violent to out LGBT individuals because we were afraid that if we were seen as not being bullies against out LGBT individuals and gender variant people, we would be discovered as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender ourselves.
In court yesterday, three things that I thought were very significant were entered into evidence. To me, these explain this crime is a way many in the LGBT community "get."
The first thing is that Allen Ray Andrade, according to his ex-girlfriend, was seen browsing the bisexual pages of the social networking website Mocospace.
The second thing is that hat Allen Ray Andrade, according to his ex-girlfriend, was a "snap cat" (or "snap cat"). He was called this because he was often quick to snap to anger. The ex-girlfriend also testified that he literally hit himself sometimes when he got angry at himself.
Lastly, a pink vibrator was entered into evidence that was collected from Angie Zapata's apartment. When DNA tested, only Allen Ray Andrade's unidentified DNA (as in it was with scientifically certainty that this was his DNA, but it wasn't as being his semen -- not sure identifiable as which part of the body the DNA came from), was on the vibrator. The defense was trying to argue that this could be "touch" DNA from someone who was particularly sweaty, but the DNA testing expert stated that "possible, but not probable." This is because of the amount of Andrade's DNA was on the pink vibrator.
Paraphrasing he DNA expert, she explained that her studies and experience in DNA that would lead her to a reading amount of 3.19 measuring units of DNA if he had put the pink vibrator in his mouth, but he had 19 point something units of measuring units of his DNA on the pink vibrator -- in other words, more than six times the DNA material expect if he had sucked on the pink vibrator. The Deputy DA who was questioning the DNA expert asked if this large amount of DNA could be explained by putting that pink vibrator up an anus, and the DNA expert said yes, this would be one of the ways one could expect to find that much DNA material on the a pink vibrator.
In other words, the Deputy DA was essentially making the case Andrade had sexually used the pink vibrator in his anus.
Today, we're going to hear a jailhouse telephone call between Allen Ray Andrade and his ex-girlfriend. In that phone call, he is going to be heard saying:
.............Gay things must die........
I go back to how I treated my friend Brett in high school. It was self-hate that motivated me to act homophobicly.
I'm only speculating, but it sounds like to me that we had a self-hater who killed someone whom he regretted that he spent time with. We in our community who have been in-the-closet homophobic bullies on the way to accepting our own sexual orientation, or own gender identity, know what that this not only is possible, but in this case probably probable.
By circumstantial evidence, the prosecution is showing that he went to traffic court on July 15th, 2008 with Angie -- the day before he admittedly killed Angie. He allegedly heard the court refer to Angie by her male name approximately 36-hours before he killed her.
And, we heard the testimony last Friday that Angie's sister Monica 
literally saw Angie "always" out herself to strangers -- especially male strangers that were hitting on her. Frankly, Angie was young and gorgeous, so she was hit on "a lot" by men. And yet, she had the habit of outing herself to men.
In my mind...by my speculation...this wasn't a crime of passion. Allen Ray Andrade very likely knew Angie was trans many hours -- more than a day -- before he admittedly killed her. It looks to me that a publicly homophobic, closeted gay or bisexual man killed a woman he saw as trans and gay because he didn't want to be identified as gay himself. In my mind, this reads as a crime of angry regret instead of a crime of passion. The gay panic, trans panic strategy that Andrade's defense is using seems to me to be a convenient ruse to violently attempt to hide his own sexuality. This would be no excuse for killing Angie -- the young woman that he, after admittedly killing her, referred to as "it."
Not he, not she, but "it."
So, let me backtrack a bit -- back to my story about Brett.
Brett, if you're reading this piece, I'm so sorry. So, so, very sorry. I was a closeted, homophobic fool. I regret so deeply being an emotional bully to you -- just so I wouldn't be discovered as a gender variant, trans person. It's my greatest regret in life -- shunning you. You were my friend, and yet I behaved so wrongly to you. I'm so, so very sorry.
Original post found at Pam's House Blend by Autumn Sandeen :: Angie Zapata Hate Crime Murder Trial: Pink Vibrator With Only Andrade's DNA Entered Into Evidence
Dallas Lives large and thinks big at next National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change
MEDIA CONTACT:
Inga Sarda-Sorensen
Director of Communications
(Office) 646.358.1463
(Cell) 202.641.5592
Live large and think big at nextNational Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change
Co-chairs announced, Dallas/Fort Worth Host Committee launches April 23
WASHINGTON, April 20 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announces the co-chairs of the Dallas/Fort Worth Host Committee for the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights movement’s premier annual gathering will return to Dallas, Texas, Feb. 3–7, 2010. The conference, which also took place in Dallas in 1994, is produced by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Co-chairs announced, Dallas/Fort Worth Host Committee launches April 23
WASHINGTON, April 20 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announces the co-chairs of the Dallas/Fort Worth Host Committee for the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights movement’s premier annual gathering will return to Dallas, Texas, Feb. 3–7, 2010. The conference, which also took place in Dallas in 1994, is produced by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Meet the co-chair leadership team for the 2010 Creating Change Conference:
Henry Ramirez III works at the Resource Center of Dallas (RCD) as the center programs manager, where he manages Gaybingo Dallas, the workforce development series and other programs.
He began volunteering at RCD in 1994, working with outreach and education programs, then moved into a part-time role as prevention educator in RCD’s community health programs. Ramirez has worked more than 20 years with the Hispanic and LGBT communities in Dallas, having served on the board of directors of the Hispanic Bankers Association during his eight-year stint in the banking industry.
He began volunteering at RCD in 1994, working with outreach and education programs, then moved into a part-time role as prevention educator in RCD’s community health programs. Ramirez has worked more than 20 years with the Hispanic and LGBT communities in Dallas, having served on the board of directors of the Hispanic Bankers Association during his eight-year stint in the banking industry. Beau G. Heyen, M.S.Ed., is the co-chair of the Dallas chapter of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN-Dallas), which works to create schools and communities that are safe for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.
Heyen serves as the minister for youth and spiritual formation at Cathedral of Hope, a congregation of the United Church of Christ with a primary outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and allied individuals, and on the advisory board for Dallas P.U.M.P. (Pride Unity Music Power) GLBTQA Youth Choir. Lovely Murrell was a principal organizer of “Ladyfest in the Biblebelt,” a festival held in Denton, Texas, in 2004 that focused on women in film, the arts and politics.
She has also been active in her local chapter of Sokka Gakai International, an international Buddhist community, organizing youth summits and festivals. Murrell is currently the nutrition and bodycare manager at Cupboard Natural Foods. She lives in Denton with her wife, their two dogs, two cats, turtle and their large family of humans.Marlene Tovar served on the operations staff of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force from 2001 to 2007, attending and working at five Creating Change conferences where she coordinated
volunteers and oversaw meeting-room operations. She currently works at the Texas State Historical Association in Denton, where she is the membership coordinator and assistant to the executive director. Tovar is the first-ever straight ally to co-chair a Creating Change Host Committee.
volunteers and oversaw meeting-room operations. She currently works at the Texas State Historical Association in Denton, where she is the membership coordinator and assistant to the executive director. Tovar is the first-ever straight ally to co-chair a Creating Change Host Committee. “We are delighted with our co-chair team of four accomplished and experienced community leaders,” says Russell Roybal, the Task Force’s deputy executive director of external relations. “We’re coming back to Dallas to host our annual movement family gathering and we look forward to a robust and visionary event in the heart of Texas. Our 2010 Creating Change attendees will be treated to real Texas hospitality. Let’s live large and think big at Creating Change!
”The co-chairs will convene the first Creating Change 2010 Host Committee meeting on Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rainbow Room at the Resource Center of Dallas, 2701 Reagan St. For directions or information, call 214.521.5124.
For more information about the Creating Change conference, visit http://www.creatingchange.org/. For details about the Dallas/Forth Worth Creating Change Host Committee, e-mail creatingchange@theTaskForce.org.
–30–
The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. We do this by training activists, equipping state and local organizations with the skills needed to organize broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge. © 2009 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. 1325 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005. Phone 202.393.5177. Fax 202.393.2241. TTY 202.393.2284.
4/20/09
Boloxi MS Children Beat By Guards Locked up 23 Hours in Filth Committing Suicide SPLC TAKES ACTION!
April 20, 2009Dear Friend,
Add your voice to this fight. Tell Harrison County officials to stop abusing children.
Today we filed suit to stop the horrible abuse of children at a Mississippi detention center, where they are confined in filthy, bug-infested cells for 23 hours a day with no adequate mental health or education services.
Our client, D.W., is a 17-year-old African-American youth who endured a brutal physical assault by guards who slammed his face into a concrete floor. After a week at the facility, he tried to hang himself with a bed sheet. But rather than provide him counseling, guards harassed and taunted him — telling him his mother no longer cared and would not visit him again.
The children held at the Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center in Biloxi are not hardened criminals. Most are accused of minor, nonviolent offenses and are simply awaiting court hearings.
This detention center is operated for profit by a company that has blocked civil rights investigators from inspecting the facility, even though they have a right under federal law to monitor the conditions there.
Dozens of other children describe their own nightmarish experiences. Because their cells were overcrowded, many slept on the floor next to dirty toilets. Infections were rampant. Guards were quick to use violence. One teen described conditions as "unbearable" and said children were treated like "dogs."
It's appalling that a private company is being allowed to profit from the misery and suffering of these children.
This lawsuit is just one of the strategies we're using to protect children from a broken system that would rather spend money on prisons than mental health services and education. Across the country, thousands of children — disproportionately black and many suffering from mental disabilities — are being needlessly incarcerated for petty offenses.
We're doing everything we can to stop this unconscionable abuse. You can help by adding your voice to this fight. Click here to tell Harrison County officials to stop abusing children. We'll make sure they get your message.
Thanks for your support.
Richard Cohen
President
Beth Karas Of TruTV In Session Talks About the Angie Zapata Case, Other Cases, And Great Coffee (+)
Authored by Autumn Sandeen and cross posted from Pam's House Blend with full permission as we are working in unison to make public the Allen Ray Andrade murder trial of Angie Zapata.
Here's an excerpt of the video (Thanks to Louise for the transcription!):
Autumn Sandeen: Why is "In Session" here and this isn't the first trans case that "Court TV/ True TV In Session" has covered...
Beth Karas: Let me tell you, first of all, when we pick trials we look for issues, and this of course has a very important issue. The first time, perhaps, that a transgender victim, where the case is going to trial, where the victim is transgender, and hate crime is also part of the charges, in the accusatory instruments. Not an indictment, here it's the information.
So it's very important, in only 11 states and the District of Columbia as you know, include transgender status within their definition of orientation in their hate crime (legislation).
So it's important that people see this case, it's an educational trial for people who are not familiar with the transgender community, and I value that educational aspect of it.
Jumping ahead to more on hate as relates to this case, but the information regarding the case Beth discusses at this point of a custody battle in Clearwater FL is remarkably eye-opening... (Louise)
Autumn Sandeen: ...And this trial is going publically to be at least as educational. And again, we're talking hate crimes. This is... you know, just from the outside looking in, this is an interesting case.
Beth Karas: You know, people need to understand all of the issues. We need to understand the translifesty- way of life. I can be criticized for saying lifestyle.... way of life, okay. I appreciate it, I need to be criticized, I'm learning too. And that's the only way to really deal with the hate.
Autumn Sandeen: I just have one last question.
Friday I think we all noticed that the defense was using nothing but male terminology, you know, Angie's male name, and calling her "he" and "him" the entire way through the trial, whereas we had family members, in fact Stephanie Zapata was strongly correcting the defense attorney at every turn. "My sister Angie, you mean my sister, Angie, my sister" and just over and over, and both sides were...
What's your take on that little aspect of the (trial)?
Beth Karas: There's no question that that was the headline of the day on Friday. We knew it was coming and those family members and friends were well prepared to respond the opposite of the quesions being asked and I wrote about that on the CNN.com (site)-
Autumn Sandeen: And we're going to link to that, too.
Beth Karas: And, I mean, it's such an awful tragedy, this case, but it was almost comical and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way, the way that the attornies were just "Justin" and "he" and that "Angie" and "she", and "my sister", and it's like, come on people, let's get it together.
This was the defense's way, though, of illustrating the issue of the case. Because they of course are saying "provocation- rage-learning that the beautiful woman he was with, biologically a male", somehow justifies or mitigates something less of, uh- it doesn't justify the murder but it mitigates it from first degree down to second degree. So that's their way of reminding the jury of the issue in the case.
And here's the links that Beth mentioned:
- CNN Crime / TruTV In Session Video Feed of Angie Zapata Trial
- Beth Karas Facebook Page
- Beth Karas Facebook Fan Page
- In Session Blog
- Beth Karas Blog Entry: Defense spars with victim's family at trial
- Twitter: Beth Karas
By Autumn Sandeen :: Beth Karas Of TruTV In Session Talks About the Angie Zapata Case, Other Cases, And Great Coffee
4/19/09
GoodBye to Hate : Angie's Zapata's Legacy
By kelli Anne Busey, planetransgender, April 19, 2009
The Courtroom's galleries reaction to the defense attorney's during the murder trial of Allen Ray Andrade is a microcosm of America's disgust that anyone would attempt to justify murder by intentionally with preconceived agenda and intent, emotionally and spiritually attack Angie's loved ones while they testify.
Where else might such a disastrous and despicable tactic be found? And why is the perception of right and wrong shifting after seemingly remaining unaltered throughout eternity?
"Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antenae bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback, on timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price - almost free"
~Rush Spirit of the airwaves.
When woman are raped, the presently discredited tactic defense attorneys often used was to claim or insinuate that 'we deserved it' or that we 'asked for it' because of our attire, perfume, and even the fact that we were in public at a certain hour.
Woman now hold power in society and we are no longer silent victims.
Because we as sexual minorities, LBGT people, are no longer complacent with the edict's of Misogynous patriarchate's to be discarded or at best marginalized to the perimeters of faith as we seek readmission from religions. Much to our detriment what we were actually doing was giving credence to the church's discrimination and enabling spiritual violence.
We realize now the powerful message of radical inclusion of Christ's life and are now living his word centering ourselves among the righteous of the true church.
"All this machinery making modern music
Can still be open-hearted
Not so coldly charted; it's really just a question of your honesty.
One likes to believe in the freedom of music
But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity"
Or perhaps not so often as our previously patriarchdom controlled culture had allowed we now embrace the freedom of the air waves to confront open consciousnesses that were sedated with comfort's allowed by inequity and injustice.
"For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall and concert hall
And echoes with the sound of salesmen."
~Rush 'Freedom of the airways'.
One transgender woman who lived authentically and without fear is a part of our unstoppable transition.
This is certainly people who's life's depends on inspiring hate, worsts nightmare.
It opens the door of life, liberty, freedom and the right to live without religious persecution, for those of us who do not.
On the web
Source Beth Karas, In Session correspondent, CNN "Defense spars with victim’s family at trial "
"GREELEY, Colorado–Angie Zapata’s mother, sisters and friends took on the defense on the second day of the trial of the man accused of killing her last July. Zapata, a transgender female, was bludgeoned to death in her home in Greeley, Colorado, allegedly because she was biologically a male living as a female."
"The accused, six-time convicted felon Allen Andrade, isn’t denying he’s the killer. He says that it wasn’t a premeditated murder as charged by the state; rather that Zapata’s deceit threw him into an uncontrollable rage. If convicted of a lesser degree of murder, he could avoid life without parole."
"On the second day of the trial, seven family members and friends of Zapata testified. Of those seven, five of them, Zapata’s mother, two sisters and two friends, consistently embraced Zapata’s transgender status."
Full Article at CNN.com Defense spars with victim’s family at trial
Reconciling Ministries Network
The Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is a growing movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church.
This blog post is my personal opinion and is not an official policy statement or press release from any organization.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)