HRC is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Penélope Díaz Ramírez, a 31-year-old transgender woman killed at the Bayamon correctional complex in Puerto Rico on April 13. Her death is believed to be the ninth violent death of transgender or gender non-conforming person this year in the U.S.

"Never in my career have I seen so many reports of deaths of our transgender and gender non-conforming community in such a short time in one location. Penélope did not deserve to die. Transgender people do not deserve to die. Every single advocate, ally, elected official and community member must stand up in light of this horrific news and say ‘No more.’ What we are doing is not enough,” said Tori Cooper, HRC Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative. “Transgender and gender non-conforming people, especially women of color, are too often the victims of a toxic mix of transphobia, racism and misogyny. People and policy must work together to protect our lives and our well-being. HRC stands in solidarity with all who knew and loved Penélope, and we will continue our tireless fight to ensure a future where living one’s truth can never become a death sentence."

In 2020, five of the nine deaths of trans and gender non-conforming people have been in Puerto Rico. Earlier this year, two other transgender people, Neulisa Luciano Ruiz (also known as Alexa) and Yampi Méndez Arocho, were killed in Puerto Rico. Just last week, Serena Angelique Velázquez Ramos and Layla Pelaez Sánchez were found dead.

“There is no longer any doubt, this is an epidemic of anti-LGBTTIQ violence. The police have the obligation to disclose the status of the investigations of at least eight murders, one death without a determined cause and several attacks in which LGBTTIQ people have been injured since January 2019,” said Pedro Julio Serrano of Coalition for the Search for Equity (CABE), an LGBTQ group on the island. Read more via HRC