Austin stands up against hate

ON APRIL 18, Jose Alfonso Aviles drove to the Southeast Austin home of 24-year-old Norma Hurtado, where she lived with her mother Maria.

Aviles knocked, and when the door was opened, he fatally shot both women. The murder of this young woman and her mother was felt not only by family and friends, but by the entire Austin community.

The bigoted motivation for the shooting sent shock waves through the community--Aviles is believed to have shot the women because of the relationship between Norma and his daughter.

Aviles' daughter told police that she and Norma Hurtado had been involved in a lesbian relationship, which has been the cause of much strife between Aviles and the Hurtado family. "She stated that [the girlfriend's] parents have sent text messages threatening Norma because of this relationship," a friend of Norma Hurtado, who witnessed the crime, told police.

About a month ago, the witness "saw a text message from [Aviles] to Norma in which [he] threatened to kill both Norma and her mother," police said. This text message turned out to be no idle threat.

Aviles was arrested the next morning by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Bexar County, with the help of law enforcement officials and a San Antonio police helicopter, according to the Austin American-Statesman. He is being held without bail and has been charged with capital murder, but even with the aggressor behind bars, the community was left reeling from the loss.

Norma and Aviles' daughter met while working together at a Wendy's in South Austin. Their coworkers were in disbelief after the incident, Dave Near, president of Pisces Foods LP, which operates Wendy's in Texas, told the Statesman. "There seems to be a haze over everybody right now," Near said. "They are in some disbelief, especially someone so important and well-liked in our group."

THE YOUNG woman and her mother were well liked not just by their co-workers, but many others. More than 150 people attended a nighttime vigil at Out Youth in Austin on April 21 for Norma and Maria, gathering to share memories, stories and to gain support from the rest of the community that has been torn apart.

"It is particularly hard when family members are the ones who are initiating the violence against our community and against us," said Rose Pulliam, who attended the vigil.

Many attending the vigil were distraught about the events that transpired, and even those who had no relation to the victims felt the pain of the loss.

"My heart goes out to Norma's girlfriend, who is left without a home and family and without the person she loves," said Cody Blair, who was at the vigil. "My heart goes out to Norma and Maria's surviving family and those who must try to figure out how to go on with life without their loved ones. My heart goes out for the LGBT community of Austin who has been rocked by this senseless act of violence."

The crowd was somber as candles were lit and held aloft, and as friends told stories about the victims. Norma was remembered as being unapologetic about her sexuality, with a strong and confident personality and never afraid to connect with those around her.

Camille DePrang, Norma's teacher at Johnston High School in 2003, kept her sexuality a secret to her students while in school. Even though she wasn't open to her students, Norma could tell.

"The way she looked at me was like she was telling me she knew already, and I feel gratitude now for that," DePrang told the Stateman. "I was looking forward to some random time that I would run into Norma and jokingly say, 'How could you mess with me like that?' and then on the other hand, I'd thank her because I will never be in the closet again."

Some activists spoke out against the fact that the Austin Police Department and the District Attorney's Office have refused to acknowledge that this murder was an anti-LGBT attack and aren't considering it hate crime. "This isn't an isolated incident in Austin because people are literally having to pay a price for simply trying to be themselves," said Candice Towe, executive director at Out Youth.

But despite the heinous nature and senselessness of the crime, community members have been inspired by the courageous life of young Norma, and aren't taking her murder lying down.

Friends of the slain women, community members and activists are refusing to be silent about this and other anti-LGBT attacks--and they are standing together and speaking out.