Lambda Legal Mourns Killing of Transgender Woman in Puerto Rico, Calls for Hate Crimes Investigation

(New York, NY -- February 25, 2020)- 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. As a people, we must do better. We must not only say that #TransLivesMatter, but our government and our society must demonstrate it through actions and deeds."