A year ago, I met transgender migrant Mayela Villegas, 27, in a Mexican border tent camp before she crossed legally to claim asylum in Texas. At the end of May, a friend contacted me to say Mayela had died. latimes.com/world-nation/s…
2/ Mayela’s friend had a question for me after she died: “Is there any way you can help us find what happened to her?” Here’s what I found.
latimes.com/world-nation/s…
3/Mayela’s friend Deisy Polanco told me she had struggled since arriving in Houston. Mayela lived with conservative, religious family members who called her by her male birth name and male pronouns. “For me, you’re Mayela,” Polanco would tell her. “I don’t know any other name.”
4/Mayela’s friends and family told me she struggled after the death of her mother in El Salvador, one of the few family members who called her by her female name. Mayela sent me a picture of her grave, “One more torture in my life after everything I’ve been through."
5/I missed opportunities to help Mayela when she reached out online after her mother died last year. I was on the road, on assignment, and didn’t always reply promptly. The last time she messaged was in April. Then she stopped contacting me.
6/At Mayela’s funeral, her hair and nails were cut short; makeup erased. She was dressed in a men’s suit. Her sister Veronica Villegas (right) back in San Salvador was shocked. Relatives in Houston said the family wanted to see Mayela that way, but Veronica didn't.
7/Reports about Mayela’s death from the medical examiner, sheriff and highway patrol here in Texas call her a man, erasing her transgender identity and making it difficult to track how many transgender people die - and how. Below is an excerpt:
8/“There are people dying to be where she was at. Obviously, she was suffering. I just wish I could have done more for her,” Kelly Escobar, one of Mayela’s friends, told me. So did I. And we can do more: We can reach out and help those at risk. suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/…
9/Several friends have committed suicide in recent years, including a Marine and a college classmate. Many have suffered during this pandemic. If you or someone you love is struggling, please know there are resources that can help. suicidepreventionlifeline.org
10/We did not mention Mayela’s male birth name in this story, thanks to feedback from a colleague. I welcome feedback from readers on how we can do a better job of covering #LGBTQ #immigrant and #BIPOC communities @latimes

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More from @mollyhf

1 Oct
@GregAbbott_TX reduced the number of locations where voters can drop mail-in ballots, claiming he was “enhancing ballot security.”
As of Friday, mail ballots can only be delivered by eligible voters to a single location in each of Texas’s 254 counties.
2/ #Texas #PollWatchers may observe in-person ballot deliveries at each county location.
“These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting,” @GregAbbott_TX said
3/ Harris County, which includes Houston, is the third-largest county in the country by population with 2 million registered voters. Before Abbott’s announcement, the county had a dozen ballot drop-off locations. #TX is one of five states already barring widespread mail-in voting
Read 6 tweets
29 Sep
On May 31, I and other journalists were attacked by ⁦@MnDPS_MSP⁩ In July, I submitted a complaint to the state, including photo and video of the attack and injuries plus witnesses. So far, no results.
2/After I filed the complaint, I was contacted by an investigator - former law enforcement - who interviewed me and said he would be gathering evidence.
3/Recently, the official investigating my complaint emailed me this form which asks whether I'm married/who my spouse is and requires me to claim "damages" for an "accident." @MnDPS_MSP attacked me. It was no accident. I filed a complaint for accountability, not damages. Image
Read 4 tweets
21 Sep
1/Here's the story behind: Californians moved to Oregon for affordable housing. Wildfires left them homeless latimes.com/world-nation/s…
2/First, thanks to photog and #Oregon resident @KatieFalkenberg who got me back to cover Latino communities in Phoenix/Talent. #SomosLAT
3/Thanks to Shannon King, the first evacuee we met, and her 7 year-old daughter Cheyenne, who showed us what the story was really about: A complex, working class community including many California transplants. You can find Shannon here: facebook.com/profile.php?id…
Read 10 tweets
16 Sep
2/George Atiyeh's grandson was out helping douse spot fires last week - I met him in Mill City my second day in Oregon. latimes.com/world-nation/s…
3/ In Mill City, Ore., I also spoke with Stephan Weaver and other volunteers fighting fires who remembered Atiyeh as part of their Santiam Canyon community: latimes.com/world-nation/s…
Read 10 tweets
7 Sep
If you don’t want to wear a mask on a flight, don’t fly. I’m flying back to #Houston #Texas from #Chicago for work and all passengers had to sign this contract. The airline requires face coverings be worn over both mouth AND nose. Let’s see how many comply. #MaskUp #CovidIsReal
2/ In #Wisconsin I’ve noticed folks not wearing masks in Subway with their kids, at hotels and restaurants where elderly people crowd around groups of small tables outside. Eating outside doesn’t protect you - ask @BillPlaschke latimes.com/sports/story/2…
3/ I’ve seen people this trip with masks under their noses. I’ve heard complaints that masks are uncomfortable; that they have trouble breathing. If that’s true, see a doctor. If it’s not, you need to see a ventilator. I saw a man placed on one. The next day, he died. #COVID19
Read 11 tweets
5 Sep
Really enjoyed getting to know these #Kenosha neighbors with opposed political signs who still manage to get along. latimes.com/world-nation/s… ImageImage
2/ They even have dueling lawn animals #Kenosha ImageImageImageImage
3/ Their houses were built in 1910, all are #Kenosha natives who told me stories about growing up in farm and working families. Image
Read 6 tweets

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