Human Rights Campaign Statement on ‘Trans-Panic’ Defense in Murder of Angie Zapata
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today issued a statement on the murder of Angie Zapata and arrest of her alleged killer, Allen Ray Andrade in Greeley, Colorado. Andrade has been charged with first-degree murder and a hate crime in the case.
“The murder of Angie Zapata, just 18 years old, is a tragic reminder of the hate and ignorance that threatens the transgender community every day,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Even worse is that Angie’s alleged killer is using her gender identity in an attempt to justify his heinous, inexcusable actions. The shameful ‘trans panic’ defense is nothing more than a scurrilous attempt to blame the victim for this horrible crime.”
