By Gisela Romero, from Paraná (Entre Ríos) Photos: Pablo Merlo Trans and transvestite activists, feminist groups, and the LGBTQ+ community demonstrated this Monday afternoon at the courthouse in Paraná to demand the acquittal of Joe Lemonge, the young trans man sentenced to five years and six months in prison after being found guilty of attempted homicide. On Friday, May 4, Judge Cristina Lía Vandembroucke determined that Joe Lemonge was guilty of attempted homicide and sentenced him to five years and six months of effective imprisonment. “Being here today gives us hope, that all is not lost. Thanks to my struggle and my own intellectual capacity, I am still free and standing,” Joe told Presentes at the courthouse in the capital of Entre Ríos province, where he had traveled from Santa Elena to join the demonstration demanding his acquittal. In a circle, the various organizations demonstrated in front of the courthouse. The doors were closed and escorted by Entre Ríos police officers. “The Justice system seems worried, and the government doesn't know what to do. Today, we, the LGBTQ+ community, take to the streets because we will not give up our rights,” chanted the demonstrators from Paraná, along with activists from Hijos de Eva (Children of Eva) of San Justo and the LGBTI 1969 Group of Santa Fe, who traveled specifically for the event. “Enough of the hate and aggression! We want Joe acquittal!” they urged.

[READ MORE: Joe defended himself against his attackers: he was accused of “attempted murder” ]

The days after the verdict

“Everything happened quite quickly. I’m struggling to understand the outcome, and it wasn’t what we expected. A large percentage of the community, who already knew the story, didn’t expect this,” Joe said, reflecting on the verdict he heard at the Paraná Trial and Appeals Court, located in La Paz. “The verdict hit me really hard. I couldn't sleep at night, but I said no, I have to keep telling everyone the truth, I can't stay silent. Then I felt like a machine, just operating on autopilot, not with any emotions. I swallowed it all down and didn't cry, and I carried on through Saturday and Sunday. But between last night and today, I exploded and cried out of helplessness, not knowing what will become of my life, which at times doesn't even feel like my own,” the young man recounted. He added, “Today I'm open to receiving help, from emotional support and assistance from organizations to financial and professional help. And I want to give hope that we are on the verge of a major change.”

[READ MORE: Demands for justice for Joe Lemonge and an end to transphobia]

Joe keeps all the stories in his history.

Hours after Judge Cristina Lía Vandembroucke's ruling was announced in the La Paz Courthouse, trans and gender-diverse activists, feminist groups, and the LGBTQ+ community declared a state of alert and called for a demonstration this Monday in Paraná via social media. “Once again, the justice system punishes those who defend themselves against aggression, harassment, and violence for being trans, for not conforming to the mandates imposed by this sexist, patriarchal, and heteronormative society. Our identities continue to be violated,” they stated in a press release. “We are marching for Joe, whose story embodies all our stories, and that cannot be silenced by even the most powerful court or the most unjust, heteropatriarchal, and sexist justice system,” they declared. Joe was charged in connection with the incident that occurred on October 13, 2016, at his home in the Hipólito Yrigoyen neighborhood of Santa Elena. That day, around 7:00 a.m., Joe was attacked by two men in his home, and in defending himself, he wounded one of them in the neck, according to his testimony. Prosecutor Santiago Alfieri had requested an eight-year prison sentence. Judge Cristina Lía Vandembroucke sentenced him to five years and six months of effective imprisonment. This Monday, in Paraná, the organizing groups chanted: “If there is no real justice, we will be in the streets. Enough of this sexist and patriarchal justice system. Acquittal for Joe, or all hell will break loose.”