FROM MGLCC-Alejandra Leos was a member of our community. She was - TopicsExpress



          

FROM MGLCC-Alejandra Leos was a member of our community. She was killed in a violent and dehumanizing manner. Unfortunately, transgender women in our community continue to be targets of violence and abuse. We still have much work to do to make our community safer, such as identifying shelters safe for trans women. Thankfully, the man accused of murdering Alejandra Leos is now in custody. It appears that the crime was a result of domestic violence. We are seeing increasing rates of LGBTQ domestic violence reports as law enforcement becomes more aware of the issue, and as LGBTQ victims report the violence more openly. Victims in our community face unique barriers. Reporting violence from an LGBTQ relationship means coming out. That can be stressful for some. Victims also report fear that law enforcement may not take them seriously. One of the major reasons for developing liaisons with the Shelby County Sheriffs office and the Memphis Police is to help bridge that trust gap. We will continue to develop stronger relationships to make reporting easier. Last year MGLCC began offering classes on building healthier relationships. The classes, called CPR (Cultivating Priorities in Relationships), will begin again in October. These sessions offer a space for people to talk about relationship struggles in a fully supportive environment. We need spaces where we can talk about our issues without fear of judgement. As a result of a need identified in those classes, we have been working on creating a support group for victims of domestic violence. The group, in partnership with Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby County, will offer more extensive support for those struggling and looking for help. Finally, two transgender support groups meet at the Center on a weekly basis. Perpetual Transition (open to all transgender people) meets every Monday at 7:00 pm and FTMI (open to Trans men) meets every Friday at 6:00 pm. They offer safe, knowledgeable, welcoming spaces for the trans community. Unfortunately, Alejandra is beyond our assistance. But what we can do is honor her life and her courage to live openly and honestly. We can refuse to tolerate any kind of violence against members of our community. We can also work together to create more safe spaces for those in our midst who are struggling so that they can find the help and hope that they need. Funeral services for Alejandra are planned for Wednesday, September 10, at 4:00 pm. Harold Ford Funeral Chapel Funeral, 1638 Sycamore View Rd. For more information on any of these services, please contact us at [email protected]
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 22:55:20 +0000

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