Remembering Our Dead

Roxxy Vanessa Astaiza

Roxxy Vanessa Astaiza [photo: www.elpais.com.co]

Roxy was a social leader and LGBTIQ+ activist recognised for her work as a human rights defender.

In the early hours of Thursday, September 17, the murder of Roxxy Vanessa Astaíza, a trans social leader and LGBTIQ+ activist recognized for her work as a human rights defender, was confirmed. The young woman was murdered in Popayán, Cauca, with a bladed weapon - reportedly during a fight. Despite being taken to a hospital, she died minutes later due to the severity of her injuries.

Astaiza was a renowned LGBTIQ+ leader and member of the Mariposas Negras collective, an organization of trans women fighting against violence in the department of Cauca. Her work had made her a respected figure within activism for the rights of sexual and gender minorities in the region.

The activist was a candidate for the Cauca Departmental Advisory Council for Women for the period 2026-2029, an electoral process currently being carried out by the Cauca Governorate. Her political participation represented a significant step forward in the inclusion of diverse voices in regional decision-making spaces.

Authorities indicated that the events are under investigation and that a possible hypothesis is a suspected transfemicide.

The alleged perpetrator of the crime was captured. However, there are no further details about his identity or the motive for the murder.

https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/cali/quien-era-la-lideresa-trans-que-defendia-los-derechos-lgbtiq-en-cauca-y-que-fue-asesinada-en-popayan-una-rina-habria-causado-su-muerte-3586899

https://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/asesinan-a-roxxy-vanessa-astaiza-lideresa-trans-en-popayan-indepaz-advierte-posible-transfeminicidio/202606/

https://calihoy.com/noticia/asesinan-en-popayan-a-roxxy-astaiza-lideresa-trans-y-candidata-del-cauca?id=52680

https://www.elespectador.com/colombia/mas-regiones/asesinan-en-popayan-a-lideresa-trans-candidata-al-consejo-consultivo-de-mujeres-del-cauca/

https://www.facebook.com/elespectadorcom/posts/roxxy-vanessa-astiza-lideresa-trans-y-candidata-al-consejo-consultivo-de-mujeres/1596017152565207/

https://www.noticiasrcn.com/colombia/asesinaron-a-roxxy-astaiza-lider-trans-y-activista-lgbtiq-en-una-rina-en-popayan-1061913

https://www.elpais.com.co/judicial/asesinan-a-lideresa-trans-en-medio-de-una-rina-en-el-barrio-pandiguando-de-popayan-1738.html

https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2026/09/17/asesinato-de-lideresa-trans-y-candidata-al-consejo-consultivo-de-mujeres-del-cauca-denuncio-aida-quilcue-la-vida-y-la-dignidad-deben-ser-protegidas/

https://www.facebook.com/ElRadarNoticiasColombia/posts/-asesinan-a-roxy-vanessa-lideresa-trans-en-popay%C3%A1nroxy-vanessa-integrante-de-la-/1130964102830320/

Report added: 2 Oct 2026. Last updated: 3 Oct 2026

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