Comments on: Gay engineer’s death ruled a homicide

By: brian

brian — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:26:26 +0000

DC’s LGBT residents and stakeholders should keep a critical eye on the investigatory practices of MPD and its GLLU unit. Unnecessary delay is never good for criminal investigations.

MPD/GLLU has been pokey — with missteps on this case, too. Conflicting, confusing information about the cause of death circulated for too many days. It does appear that discovering and announcing the cause of death as a homicide has been too late. Let’s hope that the few days when Mr. Gopalan’s identity was unknown had nothing to do with the confusion and delay in announcing the cause of his death.

MPD’s GLLU needs more focus and a full-time sergeant to handle LGBT-related crimes. GLLU also needs a fundamental understanding of, as well as a commitment to, promptly enforcing all crimes perpetrated on DC’s many LGBT residents and visitors. Sweeping hate crimes (or other crimes) against them under the rug is wholly unacceptable.

By: Jeri Hughes

Jeri Hughes — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:53:42 +0000

Guarav lived his life as a gay male, but she died as a transgender woman. It is my understanding that Guarav was experimenting with, and embracing, a transgender identity. Her death is yet another example that anyone who visibly crosses gender boundaries is at extreme risk – they do not have to be prostitutes or lawbreakers. Transgender women are murdered for essentially one reason – they exist. Guarav is our sister…she will be mourned. Tony Hunter was our brother … we still are mourning his passing. Hate is what killed them both. It must end. And the killers must be brought to FULL JUSTICE. enough really is ENOUGH.

By: Gay engineer’s death ruled a homicide | Gay News from Gay Agenda - GayAgenda.com

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:16:02 +0000

[...] September 21, 2011 by Gay Agenda News Team News from Washington Blade – Gay News [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:33:38 +0000

I would be curious to know the ratio of violent crimes against ALL people as it relates to the level against transgendered people of color. I have known numerous drag queens, transvestites, cross dressers and transgendered people, both of color and caucasian. I can’t help but believe that the disproportionate ratio, as you are eluding to, is in direct corrolation to the level of risk and personal responsibility one takes with their life. Nothing bad should happen to anyone, but when leaving home as a young adult, my parents imparted on me some very wise and sage advice. “Be careful out there, it’s a rough world where you’re going.” They had no clue I was Gay, they simply recognized that everyone needs to conduct themselves with the utmost care and concern for their personal safety.

By: jaime grant

jaime grant — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:32:22 +0000

“the same perpetrator” is the palpable indifference to LGBT people’s lives — and especially the lives of transgender people of color in DC. this is the ‘serial killer’ among us — the widespread dehumanization of trans people in our daily lives in this city.

By: Amit

Amit — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:17:01 +0000

This is indeed sad and shocking. He was one of the brightest guys I knew. How can people kill just like that.

By: laurelboy2

laurelboy2 — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:29:48 +0000

Does it seem odd/peculiar to anyone that, assuming Lou is correct in asserting that Gaurav was in a relationship and living with his partner, why Gaurav wouldn’t have shared with/the partner known about Gaurav’s “activities” the night Gaurav was in drag and then murdered? To not know the whereabouts/activities of my partner or vice-versa seems unfathomable to me. Do the police need to investigate the “partner’s” activities/whereabout the night Guarav was murdered?