Expert comment from the University of Pennsylvania Colorado Transgender Murder Conviction
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April 23, 2009
Expert: Tobias Barrington Wolff Professor of Law University of Pennsylvania
Credentials: • Researches and teaches constitutional law, conflict of laws, sexuality and law
Quotes: “It is the first time in the United States that a conviction has been secured under a hate crimes law for the murder of a transgender person. Angie Zapata was targeted and brutally killed because of her identity as a transwoman. In arriving at their verdict, the jury rejected the argument that this kind of murder could somehow be less blameworthy because of the criminal's ‘panic’ over the identity of the victim. Instead, the jury's verdict represents a judgment that hate crimes like these harm not just victims and their families but whole communities.”
“This case illustrates the need for hate crime protection at the federal level. Many states do not recognize the bias-motivated murder of a gay or transgender person as a hate crime, and many more do not have the resources to prosecute these difficult crimes properly. Congress will have the chance this session to vote on hate crimes legislation and President Obama has pledged to sign those protections into law. The need for such reform is clear.”
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