Deported Trans Activist Murdered in the Street
In what has now become the 34th LGBTQIA+ homicide for what is left of this year in Honduras, activist Melissa Núñez was shot dead in the Tomás Moncada neighborhood by several hooded individuals on a motorcycle, as reported in The Blade’s Honduran media partner, Reportar sin Miedo, Report Without Fear.Núñez had been in the United States, living in Miami for over 20 years, where she developed a strong interest in activism, as well as developing a following on TikTok of over 20,000 followers.Although it is unknown what grounds she had asked for asylum under, she had only been back in Honduras for a few months, and friends say she had just dropped some friends off and was talking on her cellphone when hooded men on a motorcycle gunned her down.Honduran activists groups say this is another example of just how dangerous life is for LGBTQIA+ people in the country, where discrimination and outright violence based on gender identity and expression are common place.
United States officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, acknowledge that it is this violence that is among factors that contribute to Hondurans as well as people from next-door El Salvador to emigrate.Indyra Mendoza, the coordinator of the Honduran LGBTQIA+ group Cattrachas, reported that the primary cause of death were bullet wounds in Núñez's head.Núñez's friend, Catrina, said on Facebook, “She was a person so full of life and energy that nothing was complicated...Fly high, Melissa, a very talented woman.
Unfortunately, there are evil people.”Núñez's sister, Glenda de Jesús Núñez, spoke with Beaumont Entertprise and said, “I will remember her as a happy, charismatic, helpful person, always with her mother and family.
