Watch the video to learn more about Irene De Soto and the Transsexual, Gay, and Lesbian Defense Committee.
Content warning: This video describes a history of police brutality against trans and gender non-conforming people.
“Irene De Soto and Tracy Levi did not die in vein. The protest by the Transexual, Gay, Lesbian Defense Coalition, led by her friends Missy and Monique, was also not in vain. It taught us about the power of protest and direct community action against things like police violence. It shows people from many diverse backgrounds fighting for a common cause. It is a heritage for the lives of trans and queer people everywhere. A rallying point to fight back against oppression.”
David Duffield, History Program Coordinator of the Colorado LGBTQ History Project
The Story of Irene De Soto
Unfortunately, little is known about Irene De Soto before she moved to Denver in 1977. She lived in Capitol Hill, a thriving queer neighborhood in 1970s Denver, and she was described as a loving and outgoing person by those who knew her. However, like many people who were living in precarity and were struggling to survive, she was a sex worker who was arrested and incarcerated several times by police. On March 30, 1978, Officer Lawrence Subia picked up De Soto and attempted to arrest her for sex work. According to his account, he shot her in self-defense after she tried to stab him and make a getaway. Subia’s account of the shooting has been unverified, but she was the second gender non-conforming person to be killed by police that year.
The Transsexual, Lesbian, and Gay Defense Coalition
De Soto’s murder sparked protests by local LGBTQ+ communities who called for justice. Her friends Missy and Monique, along with over 300 supporters, created the Transsexual, Lesbian, and Gay Defense Coalition. They staged a public protest in the spring of 1978 that called for an end of police violence against LGBTQ+ people. Not only did they generate more visibility for trans people in Denver, but this protest also led to a city council investigation, possible lawsuits against corrupt police officers, and greater community awareness.