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By Carolina Balderrama, from Santiago del Estero

Photos: Milagro Mariona (La Nota) and Marisa Nera (Cooperativa Prensa Ltda.)

Gisela Corvalán, 47, was stabbed in the abdomen in the early hours of August 19 in this province, after three people broke into her home in Los Miranda, a town in the Río Hondo department. As a result of the attack, Gisela died on November 12, after spending nearly three months in intensive care at the Santiago del Estero Regional Hospital, the same hospital where she worked caring for sick people. 

Currently, one person is in custody: 19-year-old Clemente R., a local resident. Those who were with him that day are being sought. Initially, Gisela's family reported robbery and assault, but following her death, the charges will be changed. 

READ MORE: Gisela, the trans woman stabbed in Santiago del Estero, has died

Cintia Cravero is the lawyer representing Gisela's family, who will appear as a private prosecutor "to be able to move forward and contribute to the investigation and be part of the trial. Given this sad news, the case's classification, which was initially set as minor injuries, must be changed," she told Presentes. 

The case is being handled by prosecutor Melissa Deroy of Las Termas de Río Hondo, who ordered the corresponding autopsy. So far, it is known that Gisela's death was caused by stab wounds. "We know that there were three people present at the time—two men and a woman," reported Cravero, who is also a member of the organization Di.Va.S – Diversidad Valiente Santiagueña (Brave Diversity of Santiago).

Gisela's sisters, Liliana and Ana Corvalán, were with her at the hospital. "Our sister worked caring for the elderly. She had never mentioned having any attacks before. We hope justice will be served; her dreams have been taken from her. We want the truth to come out," they told this publication.

Liliana says: “When we were girls we played with dolls. You could tell she was going to be a trans girl. At that time we must have been about 13 or 14 years old, her friends already called her 'goddess', 'star', 'diva'. Around the age of 20 she started dressing in women's clothing and chose to call herself Gisela. Our mom and dad always supported her, they even met some of her partners.”

Liliana recalls that in the days leading up to the attack, Liliana seemed happy. “Her dream was to have a house and live with her partner. She was always welcomed in Los Miranda and in El Sauzal, where she had been living recently. She got along well with everyone.” At the wake, many people approached the family to express their condolences, including her elementary school teacher and the principal of the school where she also worked cleaning. “They were devastated, but they wanted to be with us that day,” Liliana says.  

Following the wake and burial in the town of Los Miranda, family members participated in the 12th Pride March in the capital city of Santiago del Estero on Saturday, November 15th. Accompanied by various organizations, they took to the stage set up in Plaza del Maestro to demand justice for Gisela. 

When asked by Presentes about their community's reaction to the hate crime, they said: "They loved her very much. All our neighbors have supported us with raffles, fundraisers, and they've even opened a bank account in Buenos Aires to help us financially. People haven't let us down. Our mother and father are 78 years old; they were going to come to the march, but they weren't feeling well today. We're here so that no other Gisela is murdered."  

At the closing of the Popular and Latin American Feminist Forum held on November 14 and 15 in Santiago del Estero, Luisa Paz, coordinator of ATTTA (Association of Transvestites, Transsexuals and Transgender People of Argentina) in this province, proposed that from now on, the next forums should bear the name of Gisela Corvalán.