Sixth Trans Woman Found Dead in Puerto Rico, Alarming Community

Activist Pedro Julio Serrano blames government inaction for the murders of LGBTQ people and women on the island.

A transgender woman was fatally shot in San Germán, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, the sixth person from LGBTQ communities murdered in Puerto Rico this year.

The police confirmed the victim was Michellyn Ramos Vargas, 35.

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Her body was found in front of a farm gate on a road that goes from San Germán to Hormigueros. Family members arrived at the crime scene and identified the victim.

According to El Vocero, Ramos lived in the vicinity of La Plata in the Lajas municipality and was studying to become a nurse. She worked in a factory in the Sábana Grande municipality.

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LGBTQ rights activist Pedro Julio Serrano condemned the inaction of Gov. Wanda Vázquez’ administration and current gubernatorial candidates in response to the series of murders of trans people that have taken place in Puerto Rico this year.

“They are violating us, they are hunting us, and they are murdering us while Vázquez and her government look the other way,” Serrano said in a statement.

“Already, six trans people have been murdered this year,” the statement said. “[Candidates for governor] César Vázquez, Pedro Pierluisi, and Charlie Delgado add fuel to the fire by ignoring the gender perspective. They are all as responsible for these violent deaths as the murderers.”

On Monday, hundreds of women protested in front of La Fortaleza, the governor’s mansion, demanding that a state of emergency be declared on the island because of the recent incidence of crimes against women. 

“There is no plan to stop these hate crimes, there is no state of emergency in the face of gender violence—there is nothing,” Serrano said.

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AP contributed to this story.