HRC was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Viccky Gutierrez, a transgender woman from Honduras killed in what officials are calling a “suspicious” fire in her Los Angeles home early Wednesday [1/10].
The Los Angeles Fire Department is investigating the incident, which occurred in the Pico-Union neighborhood, according to reports. While the victim’s remains have not officially been identified by the Los Angeles Police Department, TransLatin@ Coalition founder Bamby Salcedo in an emotional Facebook post Wednesday night confirmed that Gutierrez died in the fire.
Friends took to social media to mourn Gutierrez’s death, describing her as “a young trans Latina immigrant woman whose warm smile would give anyone comfort.” Tonight, the Los Angeles transgender community and allies will gather to honor Gutierrez and demand an end to the epidemic of violence targeting transgender people.
Gutierrez’s is the first transgender woman of color and the second transgender person known to have died this year as a result of violence. Transgender women of color make up a horrific percentage of reported transgender murder victims.
Last year, the HRC Foundation and the Trans People of Color Coalition released a report documenting the senseless acts of violence that made 2017 the deadliest year on record for transgender people, particularly for trans women of color.
To learn more about HRC’s transgender justice work, and the epidemic of violence against transgender people, visit hrc.org/Transgender.
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