LLEGÓ, The National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization, is deeply saddened by the tragic death of ‘Selena’ Alvarez-Fernandez, a Guatemalan immigrant. Selena was found dead on the front lawn of a Council Bluffs residence in the early morning on July 31, 2003. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest, abdomen and arms. No arrests have been made, but after much insistence by community members, the police have released sketches of two suspects.
‘When news of these tragedies takes this long to reach outside communities, it is symptomatic of a larger problem and that is the lack of attention paid to LGBT members of rural communities,’ said Martin Ornelas-Quintero, LLEGÓ executive director. ‘This tragic murder is but one more example of the often under-reported violence that is frequently directed at members of the Latina and Latino LGBT community.’ Dozens of reported murders of transgenders have occurred in the U.S. during the last 24 months. The overwhelming majority of the victims were men and women of color.
In a demonstration of their acceptance and love, Selena’s parents, who still reside in Guatemala, gave police a picture of her as ‘Selena.’ Selena, one of nine children, traveled the country before settling in nearby Nebraska to be close to family members.
Selena’s murder comes at a time when LLEGÓ — along with other LGBT organizations — has been working to put a concrete plan in motion to address the alarming escalation in hate crimes against transgender people.