Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 07:42:38 -0800 From: Clare Howell Subject: IYF-Rally for Slain Trans-Teen in Austin MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org .RALLY FOR SLAIN TRANS-TEENAGER IN AUSTIN .FAMILY OF BRONX TRANSEXUAL ALLEGES POLICE BRUTALITY Contact: Leah Quin, Austin American-Statesman lquin@statesman.com RALLY FOR SLAIN TRANS-TEENAGER IN AUSTIN ======================================== [Austin, TX: 20 Jan 99] FIFTY MARCHERS, CARRYING A BANNER with photos of Donald Fuller framed with rainbow streamers, paraded down Congress Avenue Monday (18 Jan) to pay tribute to the slain teenager and to express their conviction that he did not die in vain. Donald Fuller, 18, was murdered on Friday (8 Jan). His body was found dressed as a woman. Family and friends say that he often cross-dressed, using the name Lauryn Paige, and frequented the area of South Congress Avenue. Camaliel Coria, 28, was arrested on Wednesday (13 Jan) and charged with the murder. The march was organized by the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas and Out Youth Austin as a memorial to Fuller as well as to show support for anti-discrimination bills filed with the state legislature. ### FAMILY OF BRONX TRANSEXUAL ALLEGES POLICE BRUTALITY =================================================== [New York, New York: 20 Jan 99] THE FAMILY OF BRONX transexual woman JaLea Lamont, 27, charge that police officers attacked them in their apartment when the officers responded to a 911 call. LGNY News reports that JaLea's mother, Nancy Lamont, called 911 on 24 Nov 98 when she had trouble reviving JaLea after JaLea had taken some allergy medication. JaLea woke up before paramedics arrived and left the apartment because she didn't want to go to the hospital. The paramedics departed without treating JaLea. Two police officers then arrived and began a search for a potential suicide. When told that JaLea, who had returned, was a transexual, the officers allegedly ridiculed her as a "he-she" and a "transtesticle", pinned her to the floor, and handcuffed her. In attempting to pull the officers off JaLea, Nancy Lamont and her son, John Baez, were sprayed with pepper gas and arrested. JaLea was taken, handcuffed, by ambulance to a local hospital and kept overnight in a psychiatric unit. Representing the family, attorney Mike Spiegel has asked Bronx DA Robert Johnson to drop all charges against those arrested and investigate the alleged misconduct by the police officers. ### Subscriptions. Please contact: Subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1999 InYourFace GenderPAC's online news-only service for gender activism.