Around The Nation

Kyra Kruz via Facebook

Philadelphia Police Investigating Murder Of Transgender LGBTQ Community Volunteer

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Homicide detectives are investigating the killing of a well known member of Philadelphia's LGBTQ community, Kyra Kruz, a 27-year-old transgender woman who was found shot to death in a wooded area of the city’s Frankford area. According to a police spokesperson, Ms. Kruz was last seen at a WaWa convenience store about half a mile from where patrol officers found her body about 5 a.m. Sept. 3 in the 1100 block of Adams Avenue.

The spokesperson said that detectives are asking that anyone with information about the crime to come forward.

Gloria Casarez, director of Philadelphia's Office of LGBT Affairs, said that Kruz, was well-known in the city's gay community. "She was a visible, friendly presence. This has been surprising and upsetting to all of us."

A childhood friend, Amanda Cerini told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Ms. Kruz was primarily raised by a single mother, Kruz moved to Philadelphia after high school. Though she went by Kruz for years, she recently had her last name legally changed to Cordova.

Kruz worked for about a year at the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative, a nonprofit group that focuses on HIV/AIDS outreach. Elicia Gonzales, the executive director, said Kruz turned up one day in 2010, wanting to know what she could do to help. She was initially stationed at the front desk, but later got a job counseling clients. 

"She just immediately made the office light up," Gonzales said. "She didn't think of it as her job. It was her life's calling to give back to the community." ~ Philly.com

She was community oriented and active having worked in HIV/AIDS outreach at the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Initiative, and participating in Pride events for which she designed costumes and choreographed dances.

Kruz was private about her personal life, but friends said she always had a positive attitude. But several said that Kruz had struggled in the past with drug use, and that at times her demons threatened to catch up with her.

"She always tried to find stability. She was always looking for a better job," said Jaci Adams, a community activist and advocate for gay rights. "Kyra hit some bumps and bruises in life, but she never lost hope."

Texas School Principal Ends Cosmetology Program After Perceived Gay Student Enrolls

BEAUMONT, TX -- Beaumont Independent School District’s Taylor Career and Technology Center's principal has cancelled the Adult Cosmetology class the center has offered for ten years rather than admit a perceived gay man according to Instructor Cequada Clark.

Clark, who headed the adult cosmetology program since 2009, said she first learned of Principal Thomas Amons' adversion to gay men after both attended a regional cosmetology hair competition last April. Clark claims that Amons told her that he never wanted to see “flamboyantly gay guys” in her program like the men enrolled at other programs competing in the event. “I couldn’t believe it then; I kind of thought he was just venting at that time,” Clark said of what she labeled "an awkward encounter."

The Examiner reported that Amons- who also serves as a deacon at the local Antioch Missionary Baptist Church- encountered prospective student, 22-year-old Kwmane Gray, on the first day of classes Monday and then confronted Clark who related that, “[Amon] told me he would rather shut down the program altogether than to have ‘riff-raff’ like that in the program. The next day, he shut down the program.”

In an interview Clark said that she was terminated Thursday by Amons who told her, "We've decided to let you go. We don't need your services anymore."

The Examiner reported that Amons had consulted with a staff attorney for the Beaumont Independent School District who informed him that he couldn’t exclude (Gray) based on his sexual preference, but that as the principal of the school he could decide to no longer offer the program.

Clark said that the closing of the program has affected other students, in addition to Gray, adding that enrollment has steadily increased in the program since she started in 2009, jumping from two students to eight when the call came down to close the program.

Clark also serves as a pastor of a Groves church and owner of a local salon in Beaumont, said she is heartbroken at the thought of students not being able to utilise the much-needed program any longer. 

“I take this very seriously. Most of my students coming in are single moms trying to move ahead and make a life for themselves. My thing is, I bust my tail off with this program: I give God the glory because it’s been doing good since I’ve been there. At the very least, I’d like to see Mr. Amons apologise to that young man and to allow those already entered in the program to finish their instruction to get licensed,” Clark said, adding that the right thing to do would be to continue the program and allow Gray to enter.“The whole thing is just mind-blowing.” ~ The Southeastern Texas Examiner

“This is like a hate crime,” Gray told the paper. “He never even talked to me. He just judged me. I don’t know and I don’t care (why); I just don’t want him to be over any other kids and maybe do that to them, too. He can cause a lot of trouble for students like that.”