Light a Candle for Angie Zapata

Julianne Hing

Light a Candle for Angie Zapata

The murder trial for Angie Zapata began today. Zapata was just 17 when she was brutally murdered in her Greeley, Colorado apartment last summer after her suspected killer, Allen Andrade, spent the night and found out she was transgender.

As I’ve been following the case, nearly every news report includes the stomach-turning details of Zapata’s gruesome murder. My eyes gloss over them now, my thoughts instead always turn to Duanna Johnson, Ebony Whitaker, Lateisha Green, and the under-reported but accepted culture of violence towards transgender people.

Local and national groups have seized upon the publicity Zapata’s trial has garnered to launch “End Hate,” a campaign with over 50 groups to raise awareness about bias-motiviated incidents targeting transgender people.

The trial is the first transgender murder case to be tried under Colorado’s hate-crimes law. If convicted, Andrade could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

We’ll keep you up to the date as the trial progresses. Check out AngieZapata.com for more news and resources.

Posted at 3:44 PM, Apr 14, 2009 in LGBT | Permalink | View Comments

Comments

I am sorry that Angie had to die in such a horrible way. No one deserves that no matter what they are...black, white, man, woman, gay, etc. But I can't help but wonder how different it would of been if doctor's, parents, media, etc had been held responsible for the ignorance that has been spread. Maybe, sadly, Angie's death will not be in vain for now maybe, everyone will have a better understanding of being trans-gender. It's just another example of no matter how hard we say we are no longer a prejudiced world, that really, we are still in the ice ages. I also hope that the pig that did this to Angie suffers 10 times more than she did.

She is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I dont understand why there are these types of ANIMALS living on this planet, that would harm somebody . I am so SORRY for your loss. God Bless.