Trans Woman Michelle Ramos Vargas Found Shot to Death in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rican authorities announced that a transgender woman was fatally shot on Wednesday, September 30. Her name was Michelle “Michellyn” Ramos Vargas. She was 33 years old and a nursing student.

From The Washington Blade

The Associated Press reported the body of Michelle “Michellyn” Ramos Vargas, 33, was found along a highway in San Germán, a municipality in southwest Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican media reports indicate Ramos had been shot several times. Officials told the Associated Press they are investigating whether Ramos’ murder was a hate crime.

Michelle was studying to become a nurse.

Michelle is the 30th trans person murdered in the United States in 2020. Five other transgender people were killed in Puerto Rico including Neulisa Luciano Ruiz (also known as Alexa), Yampi Méndez Arocho, Serena Angelique Velázquez Ramos, Layla Pelaez Sánchez and Penélope Díaz Ramírez.

In 2019, we lost at least 25 individuals to this epidemic of transphobic fueled violence. With three months to go, we’ve exceeded that total in 2020. This epidemic is disproportionately targeting BIWOC, especially Black and Latina trans women. That is not a coincidence — it is a reflection of both the contempt for transgender neighbors and our own internalized…