LGBT+ activists mourned the loss of Elizabeth Montaño and demanded justice for her death.

María Elizabeth Montaño, a trans doctor and activist, was missing for eight days. The Morelos state prosecutor's office is investigating her death.

June 25, 2020

By Milena Pafundi

The day after the earthquake that struck Oaxaca but also shook Mexico City, LGBTQ+ activists gathered in front of the Mexican Social Security Institute (in the Cuauhtémoc borough) where María Elizabeth Montaño, a trans doctor and activist, worked as head of the Educational Quality Department. Elizabeth was missing for eight days and was found dead on June 18 on a highway in Morelos, apparently without any signs of violence.

Yesterday, June 18, we were notified by the @Fiscalia_Mor of the discovery of his lifeless body near the town of Tres Marías, without signs of violence and with his belongings.
— Mexico City Prosecutor's Office (@FiscaliaCDMX) June 19, 2020

The death is being investigated by the Mexico City Attorney General's Office and the Morelos Attorney General's Office. In 2019 alone, there were 117 hate crimes against LGBT+ people, according to the organization Letra S. 55% of those victims were transgender.

“What happened during those eight days? What kind of investigation was conducted during those eight days? Why didn’t they try to locate her through her cell phone or credit card use? Why didn’t we know where she was? Supposedly, there’s a note where she says goodbye, suggesting it was her own decision. But if that were the case, we have to ask ourselves why Dr. María Elizabeth Montaño made that decision. We need to clarify what was happening to her here at her workplace,” said activist Alexandra Rodríguez of Jauría Trans at the vigil.

Elizabeth was a beloved member of her community for her ongoing efforts to raise awareness about sexual diversity among the doctors she worked with. She provided health education for transgender people to both colleagues and patients. Activists from the LGBTQ+ community and transgender organizations Red de Juventudes Trans and Jauría Trans are demanding a thorough investigation into Elizabeth's death and justice for her. They gathered yesterday afternoon to honor her memory and raise their voices.

Activist Jessica Marjane of the Trans Youth Network in front of the Mexican Social Security Institute

“We demand that the Mexico City government and the Morelos Attorney General’s Office clarify the death of María Elizabeth and punish those responsible. We also demand that the López Obrador administration ensure all government actions are carried out from a transfeminist perspective and under the principle of non-discrimination. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the resources and reach of bodies like CONAPRED so that they can address the needs of trans people and create space within these bodies for the voices silenced by the protagonism of cisgender heterosexual mestizo men,” reads the statement released by the Revolutionary Socialist Coordinator, the Dissident Pride collective, and the Trans Youth Network.

Activist Alexandra Rodríguez of Jauría Trans

Due to the coronavirus health emergency, a virtual activity was also held for those who could not attend the vigil.

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