After news of Neulisa "Alexa" Luciano Ruiz's murder in a possible hate crime in Puerto Rico, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Senior Attorney at Lambda Legal issued the following statement:
“This is a horrific murder, one that by all appearances was motivated by bigotry and transphobia. A transgender woman in Puerto Rico was mocked, harassed and then murdered for the simple act of using the women's bathroom – the one consistent with her identity.
"We must recognize: Bigotry kills. Transphobia kills. Puerto Rico law enforcement authorities must expeditiously investigate this horrific crime, including the perpetrators’ posting of a video of the murder on social media, and assess whether hate crime charges are warranted.
"Lambda Legal demands #JusticeforAlexa and for all transgender people, particularly trans women of color, who for far too long have endured discrimination, harassment, and violence. We must do better.
"We must not only say that #TransLivesMatter, but our government and our society must demonstrate it through actions and deeds.”
