Let's help

[Bionca]

I posted this about the Angie Zapata case on another blog where we were talking about hate crimes and wether this could/should be classified as a hate crime:

This is the very heart of a hate crime. Beyond the basics of Angie was killed for being trans* (which is enough on its own). The ripples of this and every other case of violence and murder of trans* women by intimate partners are mirrored in the fear and suspicion that I, and most of my friends feel when trying to do something so simple and basic as go on a date.

This case, and the many many others that are reported (or more often not) confirm for us that we are never safe. That no matter what we do, how careful we are we are always to blame for our own attacks. This is the crux of hate crime legislation - to criminalize actions that instill fear in a unprivileged/ minority community. This is the daily fear that I and my trans* sisters who date men have EVERY SINGLE TIME we on a date.

That fear that some curious cis-guy is going to freak out all over our bodies after he gets his. That he will feel justified and be able to claim his own "violation" and liken our bodies to rape.