Philadelphia police investigating murder of transgender community volunteer

[Natasha]

Philadelphia police investigating murder of transgender community volunteer

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2012/09/philadelphia-police-investigating-murder-of-transgender-community-volunteer/
9/13/12

PHILADELPHIA — Homicide detectives are investigating the killing of a well known member of Philadelphia's LGBT community, Kyra Kruz, a 27-year-old transgender woman who was found dead in a wooded area of the city's Frankford area. She had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

[Shana A]

Fri Sep 14, 2012 at 04:00 PM PDT
Murdered young transwoman identified as Philadelphia trans activist
by rserven

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/14/1131899/-Murdered-young-transwoman-identified-as-Philadelphia-trans-activist

A body of a transwoman  found on Labor Day in the Frankford neighborhood in northeast Philadelphia with a gunshot wound to the head has been identified as Kyra Cordova, 27, who also used the name Kyra Kruz on social media.  Her body was found in a wooded area near a Wawa where she was last seen purchasing food and drinks.

Kyra was a volunteer and former employee at the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative (GALLAEI).  According to Facebook, Kyra graduated from North Penn Senior High School in Lansdale, PA in 2003 and was attending college, majoring in biology, with "aspirations of opening her own transgender medical facility".

Cordova began volunteering at GALLAEI in 2010 and was soon hired as an HIV tester.

[Elena G]

This is so f****** sad. Really, really sad...

[Shantel]

Fri Sep 14, 2012 at 04:00 PM PDT
Murdered young transwoman identified as Philadelphia trans activist

Kyra was a volunteer and former employee at the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative (GALLAEI).  .

Cordova began volunteering at GALLAEI in 2010 and was soon hired as an HIV tester.

My gut tells me that this is where to start looking really hard. I'm not flaming Latino's but the experiences my MtF friend had living in a predominantly Latino community was so like living in hell with constant threats of violence against her that she began to carry a handgun because she feared for her life. Like Rosa has said in another thread, it is endemic of the ethnicity because of ingrained religious values and social mores they tend to discriminate against trans-women with a vitriolic loathing which makes doing business in that community rather risky at best.

It's so sad that such a young MtF woman's life was snuffed out when she was actively getting outside of her own world and helping others.

[MaidofOrleans]

My gut tells me that this is where to start looking really hard. I'm not flaming Latino's but the experiences my MtF friend had living in a predominantly Latino community was so like living in hell with constant threats of violence against her that she began to carry a handgun because she feared for her life. Like Rosa has said in another thread, it is endemic of the ethnicity because of ingrained religious values and social mores they tend to discriminate against trans-women with a vitriolic loathing which makes doing business in that community rather risky at best.

It's so sad that such a young MtF woman's life was snuffed out when she was actively getting outside of her own world and helping others.

This isn't as much a Latino problem as a socioeconomic one. Many latino communities just happen to be in the low end of the economic spectrum. Young men growing up in low income families and neighborhoods tend to gravitate towards very hyper masculine ideals and behavior regardless of race/ethnicity. They are generally involved in gangs which are substitutes for families and role models as many of these young men come from broken families and have no one else to look up to. Trans women make common targets because to a hyper masculine male they represent a threat but are also easy targets as they are women and not particularly strong or aggressive.

[Shantel]

This isn't as much a Latino problem as a socioeconomic one. Many latino communities just happen to be in the low end of the economic spectrum. Young men growing up in low income families and neighborhoods tend to gravitate towards very hyper masculine ideals and behavior regardless of race/ethnicity. They are generally involved in gangs which are substitutes for families and role models as many of these young men come from broken families and have no one else to look up to. Trans women make common targets because to a hyper masculine male they represent a threat but are also easy targets as they are women and not particularly strong or aggressive.

Good analysis, I think you're spot on! I noticed that there is a certain pecking order among low-lifes, they seem to enjoy lording it over other less fortunates, robbing them and beating them up. A tough place for a trans woman is to wind up in a homeless shelter!

[Rita]

Thats why I probably wouldn't come out at this job as well.  People have already started looking at me more aggressively just because of my nails...

This one guy commented on them and it looked like he was ready to punch me.  Some clientele since we run a multiservice are highly homophobic.  During season, its much better and we work with educated individuals who might not approve but have the decency to not give you bloodthirsty stares.

Its the opposite for woman though, they all comment on it as wow O_O YOUR LUCKY THEY LOOK LIKE THAT I WISH I WERE LIKE YOU.  Its just the guys I needa worry about.

I live and work in a dominant Latino/Black area.  I am a very light skinned Latina.  Unfortunately this area is so/so atm, police put up checkpoints and stop suspicious people but then everyone cries racism and profiling...