Here is what Colorado’s GLBT organizations and individuals are saying about the historic Angie Zapata verdict:
"This is a landmark decision. And this is the best result we could have ever expected. Being in the courtroom for a week of evidence and being called back for a verdict after only two hours of deliberation . . . and then hearing the verdict of guilty of first-degree murder and guilty of a bias-motivated crime was a hugely emotional experience for the family, friends and all supporters of Angie. She will not be forgotten.” – Mindy Barton, legal director for the GLBT Community Center of Colorado
“Since the time of Angie's murder, we at the Colorado Anti-Violence Program and many others have witnessed the mourning of the Zapata family, the Greeley community, the transgender community and the greater lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and ally communities. We have also witnessed incredible perseverance, strength and love unite people as they began to organize to raise awareness and educate others to prevent this from happening again.
Throughout this trial we've heard many myths about transgender people including attempts to blame Angie for her own murder. We witnessed the defense continually focus on the behavior of the murder victim, rather than on the violent actions of her killer. The fact is that transgender people are faced with a Catch 22. Being out about one's transgender status often means experiencing a tremendous amount of violence, the blame for which is often placed on the individual for being out. However, not speaking about ones transgender identity often means being stereotyped as deceptive and yet again, blamed for the violence that one experiences.” – Colorado Anti-Violence Program
“The jury's first-degree murder finding, along with the hate-crime finding, in the murder of Angie Zapata by Allen Ray Andrade has demonstrated that defenses such as "trans panic" and "gay panic" have no basis in reality and that the lives of GLBT people are just as valuable as any other life.
This trial has been monitored across the country, and this historic verdict will serve as a lesson for anyone who believes that GLBT people are less important or less "human" than others and that their mere existence is justification for attack.
Everyone in the GLBT community will benefit from this verdict. Today, justice has been served and, amid the pain and loss that the Zapata family has had to endure, hope for our community has emerged.” - Matt Kailey, trans activist and editor of Out Front Colorado
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We love you Angie!
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