Argentine activist Sasha Sacayán, brother of Diana, reflects on the violence against transvestites and trans people in recent months and points the finger at the State. Why are the rights of transvestite and trans communities violated both in life and after death? By Sasha Sacayán* Photos: Ariel Gutraich Our comrades Diana Sacayán, Lohana Berkins, and Marlene Wayar, in their remarkable collective struggle, brought to light the structural violence that impacts transvestite and trans bodies. This manifests in the lack of access to work, education, and housing (among other things) , but also in cultural precepts for which the State is responsible. We understand this structural violence as “social transvesticide,” the final link of which is the crime we call “transvesticide .” On June 28, we will march to Plaza de Mayo to say once again #StopTransvesticide. This will be the third demonstration with this slogan: the first was on June 28 of last year (coinciding with the commemoration of the Stonewall riots, which helped raise awareness about violence against LGBTI people). The second march was at the National Women's Meeting. All were encouraged by the commission that demands justice for the transphobic murder of Diana Sacayán.

[READ ALSO: A #Shout declares a state of emergency for transvestites and trans people ]

Making the concept of “transvesticide” visible has not been easy: there was a before and after Diana's hate crime, and after an arduous struggle by the “Commission of Family Members and Comrades for Justice for Diana Sacayán – Stop Transvesticide” and our organizations, the Prosecutor's Office issued a landmark indictment. In it, Diana's murder is considered a “femicide,” a “transvesticide,” and a “hate crime.”

[READ ALSO: The Justice system will continue investigating the transvesticide of Diana Sacayán ]

From the outset, we understood that Diana's transphobic murder would pave the way for justice and an exemplary sentence. It would also highlight the State's responsibility in the situation of our comrades. What does that mean? It means that our struggle will force the State to see that Violence against transvestite and trans bodies occurs both during life and even after death.

Violence that is on the rise

Violence against the trans community has intensified and increased considerably in recent months. For us, this is not a coincidence, and that is why we have been denouncing a systematic plan of stigmatization, persecution, and repression of trans people by the Argentine government.

[READ ALSO: #Argentina: drastic increase in transvesticides in 2016 ]

While we, as sexual diversity organizations, fight in the streets, in the neighborhoods, in the media, and within the LGBTI movement itself to denounce policies, we also have to endure a painful and impressive struggle to make our voices heard and move forward. the demand for justice for the murder of Diana Sacayán.

Cuts and repression

In Argentina, Social transvesticide has entered a new stage where structural conditions of poverty and exclusion are increasing Due to cuts in social programs, the deepening of economic austerity measures, and systematic repression. In recent months, the deaths of trans women and cases of violence have increased. Examples abound. Angie Velásquez and Pamela Macedo Panduro In the Florencio Varela Penitentiary Unit, they were abandoned by the Buenos Aires Province Penitentiary System and died.

[READ ALSO: Judge and prosecutors charged with homicide after the death of another trans activist ]

The cruel transvesticide in Posadas, months ago, was followed by attacks on trans activists such as that of my colleague Alessandra Luna; the arrests of migrants at the 8th Police Station in Once, and the attack on the colleague Keili in Entre RíosAnd there are also the stories of our colleagues who leave us too soon, after a lifetime of fighting against all kinds of violence, like Maite Amaya, the libertarian warriorShe was 36 years old. We need to start talking in terms of responsibility, and we point to the State and the Government with all their forms of police persecution and use of violence. Their goal is to imprison us, oppress us, lock us up, and silence us until they cause our death. [caption id="attachment_296" align="aligncenter" width="799"] [READ ALSO: Justice Transvesticides: the Court included them for the first time in its registry of femicides][/caption]

Diana's legacy

The historical neglect of the rights of trans and gender-diverse people in life continues after death. Transphobic murders go uninvestigated. “Inevitable fate,” said Diana Sacayán. And she herself could not escape. She screamed and screamed, but no one could hear her. She was threatened, harassed, and assaulted by the police days before her murder.

[READ ALSO: Investigation: How the Justice System Acted in the Face of Hate Crimes 2015 ]

Diana defended the rights of trans and gender-diverse people and was the architect of many of the laws that protect their rights. Right now, the government wants to end that struggle, erase it, forget it. It's afraid that other Dianas will emerge. That's why it attacks, that's why it seeks to discipline us, and that's why it's responsible for all our deaths. But they haven't defeated us, because we remain standing, carrying on the legacy of our comrades Diana Sacayán and Lohana Berkins. We will continue fighting so that one day we can raise the flag, victorious, proving that a better world is possible. *Trans activist, member of MovAnti-Discrimination Liberation Movement (MAL) and the Justice for Diana Sacayán Commission.  The Justice for Diana Sacayán Commission is calling for a preparatory day for the march, to raise awareness of the situation of the trial for the transvesticide of Diana and to present the "Justice for Diana Sacayán" Campaign. There will be a panel discussion featuring Luciana Sánchez, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs; Sasha Sacayán (coordinator of MAL); Darío Arias (Conurbanos por la Diversidad); Alma Fernández (trans activist); and Jazmín Segovia (a trans feminist abolitionist and non-teaching staff member at UNDAV). In addition to the panel and debate, there will be an exhibition, "Stop the Trans Murders," by Jazmín Segovia. Artivist Ayelén Fernández will perform a monologue about prostitution. There will be a buffet and other activities.

June 24 at 9:00 PM, El Transformador, Caseros 200, 1706 Haedo (Buenos Aires Province).

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