Silicon Valley not immune to anti-LGBTQ violence
May 7, 2021
A youth attending the April 24 celebration of life for transgender woman Natalia Smut in San Jose draws a message for her in chalk. Photo by Vicente Vera.
Three years ago, San Jose lawmakers voted to fly a rainbow flag over Chick-Fil-A an effort to proclaim LGBTQ residents were welcome in one of the world’s most progressive cities. But not everyone shares that sentiment.
“I was walking my dog, had my hair down but was wearing my normal boy clothes and someone drove up (and said), ‘Hey f-word’ and then just drove off,” said KP Eugenio, who identifies as queer, referring to the homophobic slur.
Natalia Smüt, Trans Woman and Beloved Drag Artist, Stabbed to Death
A man who had been dating the popular Northern California performer has been charged with murder. April 28 2021 7:37 PM EDT
Natalia Smüt, a 24-year-old transgender woman and beloved drag entertainer in Northern California, was stabbed to death last week, and a man who was in a relationship with her has been charged with murder.
Smüt, also known as Natalia Smüt Lopez, was stabbed multiple times at a home in Milpitas, Calif., early Friday morning,
The Mercury News of San Jose reports. The man who is charged with killing her, Elijah Cruz Segura, 22, of nearby Union City, led police to her and was arrested at the scene, according to San Francisco TV station KRON. The gravely wounded Smüt was taken to a hospital, where she died.
A Union City man will be arraigned April 29 on charges he murdered a transgender woman last week in Milpitas.
The killing of drag performer Natalia Smüt Lopez, 24, of San Jose, sent shockwaves through the South Bay s LGBTQ community. She is the 16th victim of anti-transgender violence this year in the United States, according to the Project MORE Foundation, a nonprofit service provider to South Bay LGBTQs.
Prosecutors allege that Elijah Cruz Segura, 22, stabbed Lopez to death early April 23. The two had been dating for several months, the Santa Clara County District Attorney s office stated in a news release.
Segura will continue to be held without bail until the arraignment takes place. It was originally scheduled for the afternoon of April 27 at the San Jose Hall of Justice, but Segura s attorney, Peter Johnson, asked for more time to meet with his client, and that request was granted by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Vincent J. Chiarello.
Bay Area man faces murder charges on suspicion of killing transgender woman in Milpitas
FacebookTwitterEmail
A photo of Natalia Smüt Lopez of San Jose who was killed April 23. Prosecutors on Tuesday charged a Union City man for the death of Lopez, whom he was in a relationship with.Courtesty Kiara Ohlde
Prosecutors charged Elijah Cruz Segura, a 22-year-old Union City resident, for allegedly stabbing Natalia Smüt Lopez, a Black and Puerto Rican transgender woman from San Jose, to death in Milpitas, authorities said. Segura could face life in prison.
“Our hearts go out to Natalia’s loved ones. We are committed to getting justice for our community against those who commit domestic violence and violence against transgender and non-binary people,” Rosen said in a statement.