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Statement by the Human Rights Campaign
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Washington, D.C. -- The Human Rights Campaign has joined the Gay and Lesbian
Alliance Against Defamation and Equality Florida in urging Jacksonville,
Florida authorities to investigate the murder of transgender activist
Terrianne Summers as a possible hate crime.
"The fact that Summers was shot and not robbed is consistent with
many other bias motivated crimes we have seen," said Seth Kilbourn, HRC's
national field director. |
 Murdered Activist Terrianne Summers |
"It only makes sense that the local authorities
consider hate as a possible motive and we urge them to include all
possibilities to make sure justice is served."
According to reports, Summers appears to have been shot in the back of the
head in her driveway last Wednesday while getting out of her car. Police
suspect it was an attempted robbery, but her purse was not taken from the
car. At this time, local authorities have not identified any suspects.
According to friends, Summers was a Navy veteran and is survived by her
spouse and two children. She also was active in the fight for human rights
with several different organizations and a leader in the transgender
community.
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Summers was credited with organizing a local protest against the
Winn-Dixie supermarket chain in January after an employee was fired for
cross-dressing off duty, Monica Helms, director of Trans-Action, a
transgender advocacy group based in Atlanta, told The Florida Times-Union.
"Terrianne's family, friends, and the Jacksonville community deserve to know
if this crime is being investigated in a thorough and technically proficient
manner," said Jessica Archer, Director of Media and Outreach with Equality
Florida.
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Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Transgender Activist Gunned Down in Jacksonville, Florida
Transsexual Amanda Milan, 25, Murdered in Manhattan
Tracy Thompson, Transvestite, Beaten to Death in Georgia
Related Sites:
Human Rights Campaign
Equality Florida
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"The Justice for Terrianne Coalition is calling upon the
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to investigate the murder of Terrianne in a
vigorous and professional manner and to maintain open and clear lines of
communication with community representatives."
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