Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 01:16:16 GMT
Subject: DEBORAH FORTE MURDER TRIAL VIGIL SET
From: riki@nyc.pipeline.com (Riki Anne Wilchins)


DEBORAH FORTE MURDER TRIAL VIGIL SET 
==================================== 
               
     [NEW YORK CITY - August 4, 1996]  
A peaceful Memorial Vigil has been  
called by members of Transexual Menace,  
IFGE, GenderPAC, Renaissance, and AEGIS for  
the murder trial of Ms. Deborah Forte --  
Monday, September 16th.  The trial will  
be held in either Lawrence, MA or nearby  
Newbury Port. 
 
      Ms. Forte, a Haverhill, MA  
woman, was brutally killed May 15th,  
1995 after suffering deep stab wounds to  
her chest, a smashed nose, severe blows  
to her head, and partial strangulation.   
 
     Charged in the crime was Mr.  
Thompson, who confessed to a coworker  
that he had killed Ms. Forte after  
"messing around" with her and then  
discovering she had a penis. [See story  
below].  In a coincidence viewed by some  
as sadly ironic, and by others as simply  
monstrous, Ms. Forte's murder occurred  
only hours after dozens gender activists  
had left the May 15th, 1995 Memorial  
Vigil for the murder of Brandon, Teena,  
held in Falls City, NE. 
 
     Community leaders say they have  
called for the Deborah Forte Memorial  
Vigil to continuing focusing awareness  
on the tragic level of violence against  
the transcommunity, as well as to make  
sure Ms. Forte's death does not go  
unremembered.   
 
     Those interested in attending  
should contact Riki Anne Wilchins  
(Riki@Pipeline.Com, 212-645-1753), Nancy  
Nangeroni (NRN@world.std.com), or Alison  
Laing (a.l@lng.com).  GenderPAC will  
be renting several rooms in nearby  
motels for attendees requiring overnight  
accommodations, Sunday, September 15th. 
[END] 
 
 
 
MORE ON THE MURDER OF DEBORAH FORTE... 
======================================== 
 
    (New York City - September 12, 1995)   
Mr. Michael J. Thompson of Haverhill MA  
has pleaded non-guilty in Haverhill  
District Court to the charge of murder.   
He was ordered held without bail.   
 
     Mr. Thompson was charged with the  
stabbing death of Deborah Forte, who was  
discovered by her roommate at 9:20am on  
the morning of May 15.  Ms. Forte  
suffered three stab wounds to the chest  
-- each half a foot deep, and in  
addition a number of slash wounds across  
her chest, a smashed nose, multiple  
severe blows to her head and face, and  
signs on her throat of partial  
strangulation. 
 
     Mr. Thompson allegedly confessed to  
a coworker that he killed Ms. Forte,  
after they went to her residence, began  
"messing around," and he discovered that  
she had a penis. 
 
     As they did with the brutal murder  
of Brandon Teena in Falls City NB, The  
Transexual Menace is planning a peaceful  
Memorial Vigil for the opening day of  
the trial -- both to honor the memory of  
Ms. Forte, and to protest yet another  
bloody and violent gender-based murder.   
 
     As of yet, no trial date has been  
set.  Persons interested in  
participating in the Vigil should  
contact The Transexual Menace, c/o Riki  
Anne Wilchins, Riki@Pipeline.Com or call  
(212)645-1753. 
[END]