Juana Patricia Cuesta Blandón

Source Caribe Afirmativo

Juana Patricia Cuesta Blandón, a trans woman who, was part of the Diversa Apartadó Network, from where she helped LGBT people, especially trans women in prostitution in the municipality, acting as ‘Mother’ for these citizens, was fatally stabbed on 01 April 2018.

Juana Patricia was working with the Network in affirmative projects and activities. They were also promoting sexual education campaigns and her death is a very big loss for the LGBT movement in the Urabá.

The killing, took place on the morning of Sunday, April 1, 2018 when the trans leader, was approached by a group of unknown attackers who for some time had been coercing and harassing trans women working in prostitution in the area. There has recently been a pattern of homophobic attacks as has happened in other parts of Colombia.

It is a matter of deep concern that this kind of violence can happen against people simply for expressing their gender identity or sexual orientation.


If you would like to provide a personal recollection, please email us at: HRDMemorial@frontlinedefenders.org

Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Antioquia

Sex1:Trans woman

Date of Killing:01/04/2018

Previous Threats:Yes

Gender component to killing:Killing accompanied by identity-based physical assault

Type of Work:Sex Worker

Organisation:la Red Diversa de Apartadó

Sector or Type of Rights the HRD Worked On:Civil and Political Rights, ESC Rights

Sector Detail:LGBTI, Sex workers' rights, Transgender rights

More information:Front Line Defenders

1This database records an individual's chosen gender identity. If they do not self-identify as male or female they can use the option of recording other/neither or use the term NBGI (non binary gender identity).