By Gabriela Cruz, from San Miguel de Tucumán. Photos: Ignacio López/archive. Presentes. “Without trans women, there is no one less” was the cry and demand that took to the streets of Tucumán last August. Just under six months later, and in light of recent acts of violence against trans women and transvestites , the LOTO (Organized Trans Freedom and Pride) group is calling for a new march to demand compliance with the Gender Identity Law, to call for a trans employment quota law, and to say Enough with transvesticide and transfemicide.

[READ MORE: Transvesticide in Tucumán: Ayelén Gómez was found at the Lawn Tennis Club]]

The transfemicide of Lourdes Reinoso, in the town of Río Nio northeast of the capital of Tucumán, and the attacks they suffered Natasha Banegas (attacked and beaten in 9 de Julio Park and shot 48 hours later in the street)) and Jorgelina Salazar (Assaulted by a taxi driver) were the events that prompted LOTO to convene a meeting and invite various social organizations and political parties to join. From that meeting, held on January 24th, the idea arose to organize a march to demand justice for the victim. Ayelén Gómez (murdered in August of last year in 9 de Julio Park), Lourdes Reinoso, Natasha, Jorgelina and for all those cases that do not become public.

[READ MORE: Tucumán: A young trans woman and her great-aunt were murdered]

“We’ve had three new cases so far this year. That doesn’t include those that go unreported or undisclosed,” says Mahia Moyano, one of the members of LOTO. This organization was founded in Tucumán at the end of 2017 with the goal of bringing together trans and travesti people to support each other and stand together against the violence and discrimination they suffer daily.

[READ MORE: Trans woman shot in Tucumán: it's the second attack she suffered in 72 hours]]

These are transfemicides and transvesticides

“We started out thinking about job placement, social integration, and schooling for trans women. But suddenly we found ourselves facing these needs,” explains Claudina Rukone, another member of LOTO. “We had been doing very small-scale work, basically gathering information to connect the women with the resources they needed. For example, those who hadn't legally changed their gender marker because they didn't know how, and helping each other,” Claudina adds, and she insists that hate crimes not be dismissed as simple homicides. “They are transfemicides and travesticides, and that's how they should be classified.”

[READ MORE: Tucumán shouted loudly #JusticeForAyelén]]

The members of LOTO have already begun the process of becoming a Civil Association. “Perhaps with legal status we could reach more people and advocate for our rights before, for example, the Minister of Health,” Mahia points out. “There are things many of us didn't know, for example, that when you file a complaint they have to give you a copy. It might seem trivial, but these are things you sometimes don't know and it's very important,” emphasizes Gabriela De la Rosa, who is also involved in the organization.

Everyday discrimination

“They have to treat us with dignity because we are people,” says Gabriela. She agrees with her companions that neither the province’s mainstream media, which refers to them using male pronouns, nor the provincial health system, which denies them beds in women’s wards, nor the police, who refuse to take their reports, are complying with the Gender Identity Law. “Our rights are being violated, directly or indirectly, and it’s time we come out and say, ‘Yes, we exist, and we are people.’” The August 2017 march in Tucumán, a massive event “Many girls continue to experience discrimination every day and end up believing that we don’t have rights, but we do,” she adds, while emphasizing that it’s important for society to know that the life expectancy of a trans woman is 35 to 40 years. “Society needs to listen to us and understand that we are subjected to violence all the time, that we are excluded from the healthcare and education systems, and that we cannot allow this because we have learned to fight for our rights.”

The call

The meeting is today. Wednesday, February 7th, at 6:30 p.m. in Urquiza Square. From there, the procession will travel through the central streets of San Miguel de Tucumán to Plaza Independencia, in front of the Government House.