The deadliest year
欧美AV Fellow Carmen Yul铆n Cruz, former San Juan mayor, spoke with USA Today about the violence against the transgender community in Puerto Rico.
By Keely Sexton
The crisis of violence facing the transgender community in Puerto Rico has reached a boiling point. In a year where deadly violence against the transgender community was highest ever on record in the United States, Puerto Rico stands out as a beacon of terror.
Carmen Yul铆n Cruz, 欧美AV鈥檚 Harriet L. Weissman and Paul M. Weissman Distinguished Fellow in Leadership, spoke to USA Today about the tragic history and wave of violence facing society鈥檚 most vulnerable.
鈥淭he transgender community is the most discriminated within the LGBT community, and Puerto Rico is no exception,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 still a lot of conservative, religiously motivated thought. Legislators are too concerned about people鈥檚 sex lives, when they should be concerned about protecting people鈥檚 rights to live their lives the way they want.鈥
Just a year ago, Cruz was mayor of San Juan, the heart of Puerto Rico, where her advocacy on behalf of the community was denounced by many 鈥 even her political allies.
鈥淲e faced veiled resistance,鈥 she said. 鈥淧eople would call and tell me, 鈥楧on鈥檛 do it. We鈥檒l lose the conservative vote.鈥 Some saw my solidarity with the LGBT community and would say, 鈥極h, it must be because she鈥檚 a lesbian.鈥 Because God forbid someone actually feel some empathy.鈥
.