Trans Woman Killed, Media Calls Her Male
- The Advocate Jan 2010
The half-naked body of a 51-year-old trans woman was found last week
in a vacant lot in the Montrose area of Houston, Texas. But reports
of Myra Ical’s death have been salacious at best, with mainstream
media referring to Myra as a man, saying the area where her body was
found was known by police to be frequented by prostitutes and drug
users.
The Houston Chronicle reported that Ruben Dario Ical “also went by
the name of Myra Chanel Ical” and that “he had numerous bruises and
defensive wounds, as if he had struggled against his attacker.”
Police told The Chronicle the area is “well-known spot where homeless
people camp and is frequented by prostitutes and drug users.”
Human Rights Campaign board member and Pride Houston president Meghan
Stabler submitted a strongly worded letter on behalf of the two
organizations to media covering Ical’s murder, urging reporters to
“use fair, accurate and inclusive reporting” when covering LGBT
issues.
Reads the letter: “On Monday January 18 the brutal murder of Myra
Ical occurred in Houston. She is a transgender woman but the media
continue to use male pronouns along with colorful statements about
being found in an area known for drugs and prostitution. This lazy
and irresponsible journalism shows the amount of ignorance about
transgender issues that is rampant among far too many reporters
despite the existence of resources to help them report accurately.”
The letter then links to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation’s Media Reference Guide.
A candlelight vigil in memory of Ical will be held in the lot where
her body was found.
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