MEXICO CITY, Mexico – LGBT groups in Mexico are calling for justice following the murder of Miriam Ríos, a transgender member of the opposition Civic Movement party, in the state of Michoacán. Ríos was shot and killed on Thursday in the streets of the municipality of Jacona, a crime that has sparked outrage and demands for action from the authorities.
The organization Yaaj México condemned the killing, describing Ríos as a precious woman and an active member of the LGBT community. The local MC leadership also expressed its deepest condolences and demanded that the authorities thoroughly investigate her murder.
Ríos’ tragic death marks the second time a trans woman has been murdered in Mexico this year. The incident has shed light on the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by the LGBT community in the country. The Movement for Equality in Mexico (MOVii) has strongly condemned the murder and urged authorities to prioritize the safety and respect of the LGBT community.
Despite legal progress, Mexico continues to grapple with high levels of homophobic and transphobic violence. It ranks as the second country in Latin America, after Brazil, with the most hate crimes against the LGBT community, according to the National Observatory of LGBT Hate Crimes of the Arcoíris Foundation.
Miriam Ríos, 38, was not only an activist and coordinator of the LGBT collective Respect and Gender Equality but also a municipal commissioner of MC in Jacona. Her murder has sparked widespread calls for justice and a recommitment to the protection of the LGBT community in Mexico. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the community and the urgent need for action to address and prevent such violence.