Monday, June 13, 2016

As The World Slept



As The World Slept

On June 12th, 2016 many people woke thinking it was going to be just another Sunday. To those in the LGBTQIA community of Orlando, they were enduring a nightmare.
Sirens filled the air, bullets ricocheted, screams echoed, and cries and pleas for mercy sounded as those who had gone to Pulse in Orlando, Florida for Latin Night to be themselves, to embrace their truth, to kick off Pride Week, to dance, to love freely, were gunned down in hatred. In fear. In anger.
While the rest of the world slept and was unaware, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, partners, husbands and wives, lovers, fathers and mothers, friends, family members, colleagues, mentors, were fighting for their lives. Running for safety. Struggling to escape.

Many of them called for help. Alerted family members, local law enforcement, friends on social media, of what was occurring, in a desperate attempt for help. For safety. While a madman calmly hunted them, shooting them. Killing them. Wounding them. Injuring them.
The shooter, for he is not worthy of being named in this post, was “cool and calm” during negotiations, according to various news outlets. He had no regard for the lives of the people he was attacking. He cared not about the couples he was splitting up, the sons and daughters he was taking away from their parents, the fathers and mothers he was taking away from their children, the brothers and sisters he was taking away from their siblings, the friends he was taking away from their support system.
While the rest of the world slumbered, or started their day, the victims of Pulse, tried to get to safety. They barricaded themselves in bathrooms, they ran out the back door, climbed over the fence, helped complete strangers to freedom, tried to patch up the wounded as they ran; all while a shooter intent on taking their lives continued his assault. Many of them escaped. Many of them did not.
The shooter’s father apologized to the victims’ families and to the city of Orlando, while in the same breath offered an explanation for the mass shooting, stating that it was seeing “two men kiss” that led to the hate crime and terrorist attack—because yes, this was both. However, the absurd notion, this bigoted ideology that “gay panic” can lead someone to commit a heinous violent act is nauseating. The very fact that anyone tries to use it to justify their actions is horrible. What about “black panic” or “Hispanic panic” or “white panic” or “women panic” or anything else? When just seeing someone who represents something you don’t like, or don’t agree with sends you into a rage, or a “panic” is suddenly justification for you to attack them or murder them. Will there suddenly be people shooting heterosexual couples? Cisgender, all white couples? What about cisgender, all white, Republican, wealthy, extreme right-wing couples? What if that causes a “panic” in someone? Will that be justification for them to walk into a country club and start shooting? Will the media and news outlets report that it was a mass shooting in a city, as they reported the shooting in Orlando—erasing the fact that it was in a gay nightclub, on Latin night with POC with trans headliners, or will they report that it was a mass shooting in an “affluent, known Republican, extreme right-wing, country club”?
Too long the gay community has been vilified, oppressed, and attacked in public, and now, in our safe haven, our nightclubs, we have another reason to look over our shoulder. To be on alert. To be watchful. While it will not prevent the dance, nor stop our expression of PRIDE, while we still believe (in the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda) “that love is love is love is love is love, and love cannot be killed or swept aside,” the fear that we live with outside in public, as we hold hands with our partners, our lovers, our boyfriends, our girlfriends, our spouses, our significant others, has now followed us inside the very places where we used to let go of those concerns.
As soon as the world awoke, we all watched and listened in horror as details were given. Those who knew someone, who had family, friends, loved ones, etc. in Orlando, around Pulse, or whom they knew were in Pulse at the time, began calling, texting, checking Facebook, hoping for word that they were okay. Hearts in our throats, tears in our eyes, fear clawing away at us. Terror had gripped the LGBTQIA community, our families, our friends, our loved ones, and the city of Orlando. Video after video was played of family members weeping, their tears and sobs burying deep inside those of us who were rooted to the unbelievable, unfolding story. Details unfolded slowly, and still we watched.
In denial.
In fear.
In horror.
Parents of LGBTQIA children reacted all over the world. Whether it was to call, text, or see their children, contact was made. Conversations were had, and parents who had accepted their sons and daughters coming out were having to deal with the very real fear, the reality, of what their children were dealing with, were facing, every day, simply for being who they were. For living their truth. Simply because someone didn’t agree with who they were.
Then, the names of the fallen began to be released, and those of us who were in denial, who thought—who hoped—that maybe, just maybe, this was all just some horrible nightmare gone wrong, something they just couldn’t wake up from, had to face facts that yes, yes, dear god, this actually. Happened.
Tears flowed. Bodies trembled. People clutched each other in sorrow. Some collapsed in grief.
Oh god. Oh god. How could this have happened. Again? And why?
49 people killed, at least 53 people seriously wounded, and that’s just the numbers that have been reported. Will the death toll rise? Will more of the wounded appear?

And as the world struggled to come to grips with this tragedy, controversy after controversy began to pop up. But then, what did we expect? This was both a hate crime and a terrorist attack on the LGBTQIA community in Orlando, Florida. From media outlets who refused to say “gay nightclub” or “hate crime” or “LGBT” in their broadcast whatsoever, thereby erasing the very real reason why the attack happened. Ignoring our fear, downplaying our suffering, brushing aside the agony of the families, and diminishing the lives of the fallen and the wounded. To politicians who used this tragedy to either push their agenda, or to speak hypocritical words of sympathy to a community they’d vilified, attacked, oppressed, and discriminated against, time and time again. Even to politicians who took the time to congratulate themselves on being “right” about “Muslims” and pushing more hateful, Islamaphobic speech and rhetoric, the same kind which led to the LGBTQIA community at Pulse in Orlando in the first place, only by a different party.
But then the love poured in. From celebrities. From countries around the world. From the Tonys. From strangers all over social media. From strangers all over the state who stood in line at blood banks for hours to donate blood and plasma, even arguing about the right for gay men to donate blood to gay men. The Tonys handed out silver ribbons. Google put up a black ribbon on their website. There were Pulse icons made. People changed their logos. Hashtags were made for Orlando, for Pulse, for the gay community. When word came that a man had been prevented from attacking the L.A. Pride Parade, though people were shaken, the community was still even more resolved.
We would not be deterred. We would not be moved. We would not be driven back into the closet. Forced to live our lives in the way that those with certain extreme religious or political beliefs thinks is “acceptable.” We would not cower. We would stand strong. We would stand tall. We would have spines of steel. Our brothers and sisters had not died in vain. We would and we will carry their names in our hearts with us forever, we would carry the weight of the wounded on our shoulders as we continued the march forward towards true equality, safety, and freedom.
This horrible event, no doubt concocted in the shooter’s mind in an effort to weaken the LGBTQIA’s community, did nothing but strengthen us. We ceased any in-fighting, put a halt to any grudges, and instead of separating into cliques, we joined arms, bracing each other up, becoming stronger, becoming one cohesive unit. We did not yield. We did not fall. We did not bend, nor did we break under the assault of the attacker’s weapons. Instead, we began to breathe in sync with one another, our pulse beat as one, strong, our skin became impenetrable, our backs unbreakable. We supported each other and knew that we would continue to do so. The outpouring of love continued on through the night, from James Corden’s opening monologue at the Tony’s through Lin-Manuel Miranda’s sonnet when he won for Best Original Score to Adele’s heartbreaking dedication as she sang during her concert, and much, much more. We, members of the LGBTQIA, community, knew that while we were often the ones on the front lines of this war, there were others, allies, who stood with us, behind us, to hold us up when we grew weary, and even to stand beside us. We did not have to fight alone.
And yes, this was a hate crime. A terrorist attack. Against us. The LGBTQIA community. On Latin Night. While trans POC were on the flyer advertising for the event. We are aware of what this means. We know what’s going on, even if the media wants to pretend that it’s not, but still we embraced our allies because their blood was welcomed at the blood banks, they donated, they offered up support, they held us as we cried, tweeted, retweeted, and marched with us. They stood on the sidelines with us when we needed them to. Pride may be for us, but we still appreciate them.
And then, the world slept again.
And as the world slept, the victims and the fallen, their families, their loved ones, friends, significant others, partners, etc. continued to suffer. When the news vans pulled away, they stayed, waiting to hear word, waiting for a glimpse of their family member, to see if they had made it, hands clutched around cell phones, tears streaming down their cheeks as fear sank deep into their bones. They waited at the hotel, pacing the floors, walking the sidewalks, smoking outside, walking the streets, checking the posted sheets of those who had been located and were in the hospital, receiving treatment, or in surgery, or waiting to be called by phone or by name by the authorities to be told that they’d lost someone that they loved.
As the world slept, 49 members of the LGBTQIA community were lost, and 1 homophobic person snuffed out their lights. 50 lives lost. Over 53 others in the hospital. As the world slept, 49 families had their world’s devastated, whether these were biological families or families by choice, their lives were changed forever.
As the world slept, their tears flowed like rain, never ceasing, their grief felt like a heavy cloud in the air here in Florida. As the world slept, more names were added to the list of the deceased. As the world slept, exhausted from the bickering, from the shock, from the politicizing, from the posturing, from the fighting, from the fear, from the anger, from the hatred, from stirring up the phobia, these families, these friends, these loved ones continued to mourn, to wait, to fear, to grieve.
And as the world awoke again, some of them returned to their lives, having brushed off the residual dust of the previous day’s explosions and returned to their regular lives. Others were once again plastered to their computers, spewing hate and vitriol at the LGBTQIA community, misquoting and mistranslating a Bible and a religion they claim to believe in. A God who represents love and forgives and hates judging, condemnation, murder, and those who misrepresent him. Others climbed online to offer support, financially, with their words, with their blood donations, or by hosting or attending candlelight vigils all over the country and the world.
People cried and wept with the families, mourning with them, mourning for their loss.
For while the LGBTQIA community had suffered an attack on a place that was considered a safe haven for us, while we had lost the innocence and belief that the hatred would not follow us into “our sanctuaries” we had to remember that there were others who lost more.
Parents who lost children. Children who lost parents. Spouses and couples who were separated. Friends who lost their support system, siblings who lost their brother or sister (or both) and their grief was palpable. It could be tasted on the air. It weighed down on us all.
So, let us all take a moment to remember those who lost their lives, and to remember and have a moment of silence for those who were wounded or injured. Let us remember and thank the first responders, the hospital staff, the staff at the blood bank, and the volunteers. Let us remember that we will not be silenced, we will not be broken, and we will not allow ourselves to be driven by fear. We will be strong and we will stand up and remember those who lost their lives in a nightclub on June 12, 2016 in Pulse Nightclub, Orlando, Florida, a LGBT club in a hate crime and a terrorist attack.

The Names of the Fallen:

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz 24 years old



Post words of condolences to the families of the fallen, their loved ones, and friends, as well as pictures of two men or two women kissing (preferably two men/women of color, since this event happened on Latin Night), or of trans women/men of color in solidarity, and to show that we will not be frightened away, and we will not give into defeat or quit, bend or break. We will not give into fear.
And don’t forget the hashtags: #WeStandWithOrlando #WeStandWithYou #OrlandoStrong #Pride2016 #Pride #PulseOrlando #Pulse #PrayForOrlando #PrayForPulse #GoneButNotForgotten #LGBT #LoveWins #LoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLove




-Vicktor Bailey, out and proud
(aka. Author: Vicktor Alexander)

Friday, November 20, 2015

The One Where Vic Blogs About: Transgender Day Of Remembrance

This year marks the 16th anniversary of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Being a transgender, gay man of color, living in the South, I am perpetually aware of the danger my life is constantly in if the wrong person takes offense to my living my truth. While I was emotionally hurt that me living my life, and transitioning into the man I was born to be, led to me being banned from attending Thanksgiving dinner with my biological family because there are those who have a problem with it, I am aware that there are those who have to deal with the daily, hourly, weekly, and yearly fear that someone out there, that every person they meet, will see them as being an "abomination" to get rid of.

Unfortunately, transgender women of color are more likely to be beaten and killed than other transgender women, and more than trans* men. Many TDOR events do focus on trans* women, but there are trans* men who are beaten and sometimes killed as well. (Advocate.com Honors TDOR) (Trans* Men Op-Ed Pieces on Violence Against Trans* Men) (Trans* Man Murdered in Tokyo)

Today, let us honour and have a moment of silence for our trans* brothers and sisters who lost their lives in this past year. The following information was gathered from Advocate.com:

TDOR
Image from Advocate.com

 According to Advocate.com, there have been 23 murders of transgender persons in 2015 in the U.S.:

  1. Keyshia Blige (33 years old), fatally shot in Aurora, Ill., on March 7, 2015.
  2. Tamara Dominguez (36 years old), repeatedly run over by a vehicle in Kansas City, Mo., on August 15, 2015.
  3. Kandis Capri (35 years old), fatally shot in Phoenix, on August 11, 2015.
  4. Amber Monroe (20 years old), fatally shot in Detroit, on August 8, 2015.
  5. Ashton O’Hara (25 years old), stabbed to death and run over by a vehicle in Detroit, on July 14, 2015.
  6. Shade Schuler (22 years old), cause of death unknown, found dead in a field in Dallas, on July 29, 2015.
  7. K.C. Haggard (66 years old), stabbed multiple times in Fresno, Calif., on July 24, 2015.
  8. India Clarke (22 years old), shot multiple times in Tampa, Fla., on July 21, 2015.
  9. Mercedes Williamson (17 years old), beaten to death in Rocky Creek, Ala., on May 30, 2015.
  10. Penny Proud (21 years old), fatally shot in Tremé, New Orleans, on February 10, 2015.
  11. Taja Gabrielle DeJesus (36 years old), stabbed multiple times in San Francisco, on Feburary 8, 2015.
  12. Bri Golec (22 years old), stabbed to death in Akron, Ohio, on February 13, 2015.
  13. Lamia Beard (30 years old), fatally shot in Norfolk, Va., on January 17, 2015.
  14. Papi Edwards (20 years old), fatally shot in Louisville, Ky., on January 9, 2015.
  15. Elisha Walker (20 years old), beaten to death in Smithfield, N.C., on August 14, 2015.
  16. Jasmine Collins (32 years old), stabbed to death in Kansas City, Mo., on June 23, 2015.
  17. London Chanel (21 years old), stabbed to death in North Philadelphia, on May 18, 2015.
  18. Ty Underwood (24 years old), fatally shot in North Tyler, Texas, on January 26, 2015.
  19. Yazmin Vash Payne (33 years old), stabbed multiple times in Los Angeles, on January 31, 2015.
  20. Kristina Gomez Reinwald (46 years old) stabbed to death in Miami, Fla., February 16, 2015.
  21. Zella Ziona (21 years old), fatally shot in Montgomery Village, Md., October 15, 2015.
  22. Maya Hall (27 years old), killed by police in Fort Meade, Md., March 30, 2015.
  23. Kiesha Jenkins (22 years old), fatally shot in Philadelphia, October 6, 2015.
That number increases as you venture out into the rest of the world.

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2015
Image from Advocate.com


In Brazil, there were 56 murders of transgender persons.

  1. C.N. Alves de Matos Jr. (21 years old), stabbed and dismembered in São Paulo, Brazil, on September 25, 2015.
  2. L.A. de Souza (22 years old), found in landfill with knife in neck in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, on September 30, 2015.
  3. Waleska Rayala (21 years old), stabbed 27 times in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, on September 2, 2015.
  4. Paulinha, shot in head and chest in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, on September 8, 2015.
  5. Flower (39 years old), beaten to death in Parintins, Amazonas, Brazil, on August 27, 2015.
  6. V.H.A dos Santos (25 years old), shot multiple times in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 24, 2015.
  7. Patricia (29 years old), cause of death unknown, body thrown into a bush in Santa Terezinha, Piracicaba, Brazil, on August 3, 2015.
  8. Unidentified (45 years old), fatally shot in the head in Alta Floresta d’Oeste, Rondônia, Brazil, on July 25, 2015.
  9. Gabi (26 years old), beaten to death in Valparaíso de Goiás, Brazil, on July 19, 2015.
  10. Erika Aguilera (25 years old), fatally shot in the back in Dourados, Brazil, on July 16, 2015.
  11. India Nascimento (29 years old), beaten to death in Pernambuco, Brazil, on July 12, 2015.
  12. L.R.O. Dorta (26 years old), decapitated in Pernambuco, Brazil, on July 12, 2015.
  13. Vanessa Calaça (27 years old), stoned to death in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, on July 12, 2015.
  14. Unknown woman, fatally shot multiple times in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil on June 30, 2015.
  15. Unknown woman, stabbed in the neck in Cacoal, Rondônia, Brazil, on July 5, 2015.
  16. Bruna J. Mendes (27 years old), fatally shot multiple times in Itapebi, Bahia, Brazil, on June 29, 2015.
  17. Sidney Araújo Claudino (19 years old, fatally shot in the chest in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, on June 23, 2015.
  18. Laura Vermont (18 years old), beaten to death by police in São Paulo, Brazil, on June 20, 2015.
  19. Kauane da Silva (35 years old), fatally shot in the head in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on June 13, 2015.
  20. Unknown woman, unknown cause of death, buried in a shallow grave in Serra, Espírito Santo, Brazil, on June 9, 2015.
  21. Kelly Silva (31 years old), stabbed in neck and arm in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil on June 9, 2015.
  22. Andréia Amado (29 years old), fatally shot in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on June 4, 2015.
  23. Carol Melo (30 years old), strangled to death in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil on June 3, 2015.
  24. Priscilla da Silva (23 years old), fatally shot in Dois Riachos, Alagoas, Brazil, on May 30, 2015.
  25. Barbara Sodre (29 years old), stabbed to death in Sergipe, Brazil, on May 25, 2015.
  26. Jean Waltrick (27 years old), shot multiple times in the head in Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil, on May 23, 2015.
  27. Vandressa Vinnitt, fatally shot in Realengo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 18, 2015.
  28. Ticiane Abravanel (21 years old), fatally shot in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, on May 18, 2015.
  29. La Monique de Roma (43 years old), fatally shot in Butantã, São Paulo, Brazil, on May 14, 2015.
  30. Unidentified woman, fatally shot in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, on May 3, 2015.
  31. Stefanny, fatally shot in Caucaia, Ceará, Brazil, on April 30, 2015.
  32. Job Rodrigues da Silva (46 years old), fatally shot in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil, on April 17, 2015.
  33. Unidentified woman, beaten and strangled to death in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, on April 17, 2015.
  34. Bruna (47 years old), fatally shot in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, on April 16, 2015.
  35. Bruna Quércia (15 years old), fatally shot in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil, on April 15, 2015.
  36. Victória Camargo (29 years old), fatally shot in Venâncio Aires, Brazil, in April 13, 2015.
  37. Bruna Michele (20 years old), beaten to death in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on April 13, 2015.
  38. Vanessa Ganzaroli (18 years old), stabbed multiple times in Petrolina, Pernambuc, Brazil, on April 3, 2015.
  39. Debora, stoned to death in Mogi Mirim, São Paulo, Brazil, on April 2, 2015.
  40. Lotinha, stabbed to death in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, on March 29, 2015.
  41. Adriana (22 years old), shot multiple times in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, on March 22, 2015.
  42. Bianca Araujo (21 years old), fatally shot in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil on March 20, 2015.
  43. Michael Lucas de Almeida Reginald (13 years old), beaten, stabbed multiple times in Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil, on March 18, 2015.
  44. Natália Ferraz (21 years old), shot multiple times in Caçapava, São Paulo, Brazil, on February 27, 2015.
  45. Ygor Fernando Oliveira Santos (20 years old), shot multiple times in Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas, Brazil, on February 27, 2015.
  46. Keity (23 years old), stabbed 10 times in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, on February 24, 2015.
  47. Lara (16 years old), stoned to death in Parauapebas, Pará, Brazil, on February 22, 2015.
  48. Unidentified woman, shot multiple times in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, on February 20, 2015.
  49. Raíssa (19 years old), stabbed multiple times in neck and chest in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, on February 16, 2015.
  50. Capitú Santos (31 years old), stabbed to death in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, on February 16, 2015.
  51. Joyce Akira (teen), shot multiple times in Mangabeira, Joao Pessoa, Brazil, on February 8, 2015.
  52. Pata (35 years old), strangled to death in Macapá, Amapá, Brazil, on February 7, 2015.
  53. Didinha (18 years old), shot multiple times in Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil, on February 1, 2015.
  54. Unidentified woman, fatally shot in Lorena, São Paulo, Brazil, on March 17, 2015.
  55. LÉO (26 years old), fatally shot in Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, on January 26, 2015.
  56. Piu da Silva (25 years old), beaten, shot multiple times in Nilópolis, Rio de Janeiroa, Brazil, on January 22, 2015.
In the rest of the world the number of reported deaths were fewer than in the U.S. and Brazil, but even one death is one too many.

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2015
Image from Advocate.com
 There were 11 deaths of transgender persons in the rest of the world:

  1. Nephi Luthers (20 years old), fatally shot in Georgetown, Guyana, on July 21, 2015.
  2. Diosvany Muñoz Robaina (24 years old), stoned to death in Pinar del Río, Cuba, on April 26, 2015.
  3. Unknown (41 years old), severe head and neck trauma in Alicante, Spain, on July 21, 2015.
  4. Unidentified woman, fatally shot in Peshawar, Pakistan, on April 6, 2015.
  5. Unidentified woman, fatally shot in Peshawar, Pakistan, on April 6, 2015.
  6. Diana Sacayán (39 years old), stabbed multiple times in Buenos Aires, on October 11, 2015.
  7. Marcela Chocobar (26 years old), dismembered and burned in Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina, on September 4, 2015.
  8. Francela Méndez, stabbed to death in Las Palmeras, Sonsonate, El Salvador, on May 31, 2015.
  9. Fernanda “Coty” Olmos (59 years old), stabbed and suffocated in Santa Fe, Argentina, on September 25t, 2015.
  10. Yoshi Tsuchida (38 years old), found dead with face skinned off inside his apartment in Fussa, Japan, on November 12, 2015. 
  11. Vanessa Santillan (33 years old), beaten to death in London, England, on March 28, 2015.
While today is the day we all set aside to remember these people who lost their lives in this past year, let's remember them always.

-Vicktor Alexander