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Community celebrates and mournes the life and death of Bella Evangelista, a Transgender Woman

Last night, approximately, 75 people gathered for a vigil at the corner of 14th and Alison in Northwest D.C. to commerate the life of Bella [Be-yah] Evangelista, a 25 year old latina transgender murder victim. Earlier this weekend, Evangelista, was shot to death at that very corner. The vigil included a sign post covered with stuffed animals, candles, and signs declaring an end to violence as well as a sign saying, Transgenders Unite. Also, activists, community members, friends and family spoke out at this vigil. Like many of the speakers, Ruby Bracamonte, a long time friend of Bella [Be-ya] Evangelista and organizer of this vigil, talks about the challenges of being transgendered in this society.


Listen
(2MB, mp3)
[...00:46...]

Lisbeth Melendez, director of Community Education and Training for Illego, the National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender organization, describes the importance of community education in preventing crimes like this.

[...00:30...]

Antoine D. Jacobs, 22, was charged with the first degree murder of Evangelista. The killing has been classified as a hate/bias-motivated crime, which carries a longer prison sentence under Washington D.C. law. However, Washington D.C. does not specify gender identity under their non-discrimination policies. Bella Evangelista's wake will take place on Friday.

For Metro News, this is Selina Musuta
 
 
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Re: Community celebrates and mournes the life and death of Bella Evangelista, a Transgender Woman

Thank you for posting this. it's great reporting and really gets at the issues.
 

Re: Community celebrates and mournes the life and death of Bella Evangelista, a Transgender Woman

I would really appreciate it if the media would respect the gender identity of the person who was murdered by referring to her as Latina and not Latino.
Thank you.
 

Re: Community celebrates and mournes the life and death of Bella Evangelista, a Transgender Woman

To T.J.
The reporter spelled "latina" incorrectly once, and in the next sentence, she spelled it correctly. I consider this a typo, now fixed.

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