A print and online advertising campaign was launched today throughout the state of Colorado to educate residents about the life and death of a Colorado transgender woman, Angie Zapata, who was brutally murdered in July 2008 because of anti-transgender bias. Her alleged killer goes on trial next Tuesday in Greeley, Colo. The campaign also informs about the importance of Colorado's hate crime law and the need for a federal hate crime law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
Read more after the jump.
The full-page print ads run today in 22 newspapers throughout the state. In addition, an aggressive online advertising campaign through Google also is being launched today. The campaign is sponsored by 50 Colorado non-profit organizations dedicated to giving a voice to all of the state's residents. The ads link to a specially created Web site, www.AngieZapata.com, which gives further information about Angie, what it means to be transgender and the importance of hate crime statutes. There are also links on the Web site to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter pages created so that viewers have a forum to reflect, share and discuss the various issues.
The trial marks the first time that Colorado's transgender-inclusive hate crime statute - and in fact any state's hate crime law - has been applied in the investigation and prosecution of an anti-transgender murder case. Currently, federal law does not include sexual orientation or gender identity as part of the hate crime statute. On Thursday of last week, the Matthew Shepard Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. When passed by Congress, President Obama has pledged to sign such a bill.
"The strong support of state organizations recognizing the importance of this trial has been overwhelming," said Carlos Martinez, executive director of The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado. "We are grateful for such diverse support of Angie's family and friends during this sad time."
The ad today runs in the following newspapers: Pueblo Chieftain; Durango Herald; Grand Junction Sentinel; Colorado Springs Gazette; Aurora Sentinel Daily and Weekender; Buckley Guardian; Arvada Press; Lakewood Sentinel; Golden Transcript; Wheat Ridge Transcript; Westminster Window; Northglenn/Thornton Sentinel; Westsider; Thornton Frontier; Littleton Independent; Englewood Herald; Highlands Ranch Herald; Lone Tree Voice; Centennial Citizen; Douglas County News-Press; Castle Rock News-Press; and the Parker Chronicle.
