The Murder of Angie Zapata

by Michael Jones · 2009-04-15 06:19:00 UTC
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Angie Zapata

There's a historic trial underway in Colorado right now, for the murder of Angie Zapata, an 18-year-old transgender woman living in Greeley.  In July 2008, Angie was found dead in her apartment, beaten to death in a brutal assault.  Her alleged perpetrator, Allen Ray Andrade, is facing murder charges, and the case is putting to test Colorado's hate crimes law, which includes a provision on gender identity.

But the case is relevant well beyond the state borders of Colorado.  Angie's murder marks the first time that a gender identity-inclusive hate crimes law is being used by prosecutors.  But if Angie's murder had happened in any one of the 39 states that don't have a gender identity-inclusive hate crimes law, this would have just been another act of random violence.

There is nothing random about violence committed toward people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  Angie's trial exposes one of the biggest holes in federal hate crimes laws - that there are no protections on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  How many more Angie Zapatas will there have to be before Congress and the White House act on federal hate crimes legislation?

Check out the moving YouTube clip below, which tells the story of Angie Zapata.  And continue to check out Autumn Sandeen's updates over at Pam's House Blend. She's covering the trial live from Colorado.  You can also follow things over on Twitter (#zapata).  This is an important case that can and should have national implications.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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