A politician and at least three transgender individuals have been killed in Mexico this month, sparking protests due to the rising number of murders.
people were killed and nine were injured in a shooting at a bar
Mexican officials reported that a shooting at a bar resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to nine others.transgender people
In the initial fortnight of 2024, multiple individuals lost their lives, and organizations advocating for human rights were examining two more similar incidents. These killings indicate a turbulent beginning to the year in a nation where the LGBTQ+ community is frequently subjected to harm.
On Sunday, the most recent death occurred when transgender activist and politician Samantha Gómez Fonseca was shot and killed in a car in the southern part of Mexico City. This information was reported by local prosecutors.
The murders sparked anger among LGBTQ+ individuals who demonstrated on the main street of Mexico City on Monday.
In Mexico, a country known for its “machismo” and devout citizens, there have been reports of violence and murder targeting Queer individuals. These acts of brutality serve as a warning to the LGBTQ+ community that they are not accepted in society.
In the last six years, Letra S, a human rights organization, has recorded at least 513 intentional murders of LGBTQ+ individuals in Mexico. In the previous year, the brutal killing of prominent LGBTQ+ activist Ociel Baena sparked a similar surge of anger and demonstrations.
Xomalia Ramírez, a 55-year-old, expressed that the recent violence was partially due to the remarks made by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who referred to a transgender congresswoman as a “man dressed as a woman” last week.
Although López Obrador eventually expressed regret, protesters like Ramírez, a transgender woman from the state of Oaxaca, believed it was insufficient and came too late.
Ramírez stated that women, such as herself, face difficulty in securing employment and when they do, their gender identity is often disregarded. In her role as a Spanish teacher, she shared that her superiors have mandated that she wear attire typically designated for men while on the job.
Ramírez stated that in order to work, they must pretend to be a man. Without doing so, they would not be able to eat.
Ramírez stated that the president’s remarks have sparked transphobia and led to acts of violence against the transgender community.
Miriam Nohemí Ríos, a transgender advocate, was killed last week while working at her business in the state of Michoacán, Mexico.
Authorities in Jalisco, a central state in Mexico, reported on Saturday that they discovered the body of a transgender individual with gunshot wounds in a ravine.
Two additional instances were not immediately verified by authorities, however, they were reported by advocacy organizations who stated that they frequently face difficulties in obtaining information from officials while documenting hate crimes.
According to the National Observatory of Hate Crimes Against LGBTI individuals, one transgender woman, who went by the name “Ivonne”, was killed with her partner in the state of Veracruz.
Letra S. recorded the murder of Gaby Ortíz, a transgender stylist whose body was discovered in Hidalgo state. According to local authorities, her body was found on the side of the road with a threatening message written on a piece of cardboard nearby.
Police stated they would conduct an investigation into the brutal fatalities, however, activists expressed skepticism that any action would be taken regarding the incidents. As a result of rampant corruption and inefficiency within the Mexican government, approximately 99% of crimes in Mexico remain unresolved.
According to Jair Martinez, a Letra S analyst, it is highly probable that situations like this will result in no punishment.
has reached epidemic levels.
The prevalence of violence against transgender individuals in the United States and internationally has reached alarming rates.
A recent study published by the Human Rights Campaign in November brought attention to the widespread violence faced by the trans and gender non-conforming community in the U.S., referred to as an “epidemic” by the LGBTQ+ organization. The report emphasized the heightened danger faced by transgender women and transgender people of color, who are at a greater risk of fatal violence.
At least 32
People who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming.
According to HRC’s November report, the number of fatalities in the United States since the start of 2022 was significant.
Earlier this year,
The Human Rights Campaign announced a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States.
This marks the first time in 40 years that the organization has experienced this. The organization cited a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ laws being proposed nationwide, with more than 220 specifically aimed at transgender individuals. These include efforts to restrict sports team participation, restroom and locker room use, access to gender-affirming healthcare, and inclusive education materials in schools.
From October 2022 to September 2023, there were more than 300 reported murders of transgender and gender-diverse individuals worldwide, according to data from the nonprofit organization Transgender Europe. According to Statista, the country with the most reported cases was Brazil, making up 31 percent of the global total. Following closely behind were Mexico and the United States with the second and third highest numbers, respectively.
This report was contributed to by C Mandler.
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Source: cbsnews.com