Two women in Madrid, Spain, recently received over 18 years in prison each for the murder of a transsexual man, according to ELPAIS.com. (Note: the article is in Spanish--when and if I get a link to an English translation, I will put it up.)
The man, Roberto (his first name only was provided in the article), allowed two female friends, Dolores and Ainhoa (first names only provided), to move in with him because they were living in a shack. The women then proceeded to take over Roberto’s home and his life, changing the locks on the home, selling his possessions, taking away his phone, and physically and psychologically abusing him over a period of months before he was found dead on September 1, 2007.
His body was found naked, bruised, battered, and malnourished, lying on a mattress covered with urine and feces. The cause of death was determined to be a subdural hematoma from a beating.
According to court reports, the two women also forced him to shave his body hair, an act that they apparently recorded, and to dress in high heels and a skirt, which was contrary to his gender identity and the gender in which he was living. The court recognized that this was part of the ongoing abuse from which he suffered, and also apologized for not being able to use his male name in court. It is unclear whether or not he had legally changed his name to Roberto.
While trans women are most frequently the victims of violent attack and murder for several reasons, including visibility and misogyny, Roberto’s story demonstrates that all trans people are at risk of violence, brutality, assault, and murder.
The fact that Roberto was trans appears to have figured into his death, as indicated by the psychological abuse he suffered from the women by being forced to shave his body hair and wear feminine clothing.
While this did not happen in the United States, there is no reason to believe that it could not and would not happen here, particularly given the alarming rate of attacks on and murders of trans women. Recognizing trans people as equal to all other citizens will be a significant step forward in ending this type of abuse.
Comments
what a horrible, terrifying story!
That is horrible... I am a transguy and my parents are worried about me... I pray that nothing ever happens to me because I would hate for my family and friends to have to deal with the pain and BS of legal issues if they pressed charges etc...
It's a shame that people are so cruel...
It pisses me off to know that women commit these types of murders too.
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