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MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2001

"In the last moments of Fred's 16-year-old life, there was a bloody struggle.

The life-ending attack left Fred C. "F.C." Martinez Jr. with a skull fracture, wrist and abdominal injuries. His attacker left him abandoned in "the Pits," a rocky canyon in southern Colorado.

Some blame his death on hate - hate based on appearances and sexual orientation. As for his sexual identity, Martinez has been called both gay and transgendered. He explored his feminine side, often carrying a purse, wearing nail polish and sporting trendy hairstyles.

The young Navajo from Cortez, Colo., ultimately paid an excruciating price for his girlish looks, demeanor, lifestyle. . ."

Get the Story:
Jodi Rave Lee: Ignorance is not an excuse (The Lincoln Journal Star 10/14)

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