Agnés Torres Hernández

Agnes Torres Hernández, or Agnés Torres (born 1983, Tehuacán – d. 10 March 2012, Atlixco) was a Mexican psychologist, researcher, and transgender activist.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Torres and the second or maternal family name is Hernández.
Agnes Torres
Born1983
Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico
Died10 March 2012 (aged 28)
Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico
NationalityMexican
EducationVeracruz University
Occupation(s)Psychologist, researcher, LGBT activist

Torres advocated for the legal recognition of transgender people in Mexico, and was murdered for her work on 10 March 2012.[1] After her death, the Puebla state congress incorporated "hate crime" into the Civil Defense Code for crimes made on the basis of gender or sexual orientation.[2]

Education

Agnes Torres Hernández completed her psychology degree with honors in 2001 at Veracruz University. However, she was unable to actually receive her degree because it was issued under her deadname and not under the name Agnes.[3]

In May 2014, Veracruz University issued Torres her degree post mortem in recognition of her social and activist work.[4]

Activism

Torres advocated for the right to rectify birth certificates and collaborated with Humana Nación Trans to seek respect and recognition for transgender persons at the national level.[5] She also worked with the Democracy and Sexuality Network (DEMYSEX) and Erósfera.[6]

In 2010, Torres filed a complaint against Javier López Zavala, then the PRI candidate for the governorship of Puebla, to the National Council to Prevent Discrimination over derogatory remarks López made in an electoral debate regarding transgender identity.[7]

Murder

According to reports from the Attorney General of the State of Puebla, Torres's body was found in a ravine Siglo XXI highway on 10 March 2012, showing signs of torture. Because of the violence evidently carried out upon her, Torres's murder was classified as a hate crime on the basis of transphobia.[1][5][8]

The Attorney General of Puebla arrested four suspects in connection to Torres's murder, while fifth remained a fugitive. Three years after her murder, in March 2015, no one had been charged for Torres's murder.[9]

Citations
  1. Cruz, Elvia (12 March 2012). "La activista transgénero Agnés Torres es hallada muerta en Puebla". CNN México (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  2. Cantorán, Josué (17 March 2015). "Sin prevención, la tipificación de crímenes de odio está coja: Odesyr". Lado B (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  3. Aroche, Ernesto (15 March 2012). "Piden a la UV otorgue el título a Agnes Torres". Lado B (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  4. Couttolenc Soto, José Luis (22 May 2014). "UV reconoció trayectoria académica y de lucha social de Agnes Torres" (in Spanish). Veracruz University. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  5. Rangel, Xóchitl (12 March 2012). "Asesinan a activista transexual en Puebla". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  6. Baruch, Ricardo (21 March 2012). "¿Quién fue Agnes Torres?". Sin Embargo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  7. Crisanto, Guadalupe (16 March 2012). "Agnes Torres, la luchadora incansable". Sexenio (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  8. Castañeda, Alfonso (24 May 2012). "Transfobia: las otras muertas". Sin Embargo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  9. Velázquez, Edmundo (11 March 2015). "A tres años del asesinato de Agnes Torres, uno de sus homicidas sigue libre". Periódico Central (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2015.
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