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News > Latin America

Argentine President Demands Inquiry into Trans Activist's Death

  • Diana Sacayan was the first transgender person to receive an ID card that reflects her gender identity.

    Diana Sacayan was the first transgender person to receive an ID card that reflects her gender identity. | Photo: Infobae Argentina TV

Published 14 October 2015
Opinion

Diana Sacayán is the third transgender woman to be killed in Argentina this month.

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner on Wednesday called on the country’s security forces to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of Diana Sacayán, a leading transgender activist.

The death of Diana Sacayán, whose body was identified Tuesday, was condemned by Kirchner as a “terrible crime” that demanded investigation from both the national and metropolitan police.

Kirchner recalled personally handing the activist a national identity card that reflected Sacayán’s gender identity. She was the first transgender person in Argentina to have her gender identity reflected on such a card.

Sacayán, president of the International Association of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals, as well as a member of the Anti-Discrimination Liberation Movement, is the third transgender woman to be killed in Argentina in the last 30 days.

Sacayán’s death is also one of many recent cases of femicide in Argentina. Activists say a woman is killed in Argentina as often as once every 30 hours. The nation’s Special Crime Unit Against Gender Violence has already made a formal motion so that the case can be tried and investigated as a femicide.

Meanwhile, the Argentinian Homosexual Community characterized Sacayán’s death as a “hate crime,” suggesting she was targeted based on her transgender identity.

“Discrimination continues to kill. Diana Sacayán is the third transfemicide in a month.”

Kirchner called on women to join the fight against gender-based discrimination, saying they too are complicit.

"Men are not the only ones who can discriminate against women,” said Kirchner. “If we are 50 percent of the planet and there is discrimination this means we have problems inside. Often we discriminate between women ourselves.”

The Argentine President added that she takes pride in her womanhood saying she likes to take care of her appearance, including hairstyle and make-up.

"I love to emphasize that I am woman and I also respect those who don’t like to. I like being a woman and for being a woman sometimes we are discriminated against, " Kirchner said.

RELATED: 'Ni una menos': Feminism and Politics in Argentina

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