Monarch Fall 2015

Hate Crimes
By Cathy Serino
mbnut@hotmail.com
2015 is turning into a record year for the murder of transgender
people. With all these murders, the question everyone keeps asking
is "why are these not being listed and pursued as hate crimes?"
Officials seem to go out of their way to label a crime anything BUT a
hate crime. The reason for this is actually pretty simple, it's hard to
prove motive and when a motive is clear, it's bad for business.
The FBI keeps statistics on hate crimes around the country that
anybody can access and no city or town wants to be on that list
because it damages their image to the rest of the world. What
business or person is going to want to move someplace that has a
high level of hate crimes? The sad truth is that it is so much easier
and profitable to label the crime as a robbery or domestic violence
then it is to label it a hate crime.
Unfortunately this trend will probably continue as long as
politicians and hate groups keep filling people's heads with hate
towards the transgender community. All we really can do is to
continue to put pressure on officials when this happens to properly
investigate these crimes and to also continue to raise awareness of
what is happening.
Eylul Cansin, age 23, Jan. 5 th ;
Melonie Rose, age 19, Feb. 11 th ;
Zander Mahaffey, age 15, Feb. 15 th ;
Aubrey Mariko Shine, Age 22, Feb. 24 th ;
Cameron Langrell, age 15, May 1 st ;
Ash Haffner, age 16, Feb. 26 th ;
Sage David, March 2 nd ;
Transgender Suicides 2015
Taylor Wells, age 18, March 15 th ;
Blake Brockington, age 18, March 23 rd ;
Ezra Page, age 15, March 28 th ;
Ashley Halstrom, age 26, Oct. 14 th ;
Taylor Alesana, age 16, April 2 nd ;
Sam Taub, age 15, April 9 th ;
Rachel Bryk, age 23, April 28 th ;
Kyler Prescott, age 14, May 18 th ;
Jess Ships, age 31, June 24 th ;
Same Ehly, age 21, June 26 th ;
Skylar Marcus Lee, age 16, Sept. 28 th ;
Emmette Castle, age 14, Oct. 7 th