Whereas the Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine (ASUCI) has a responsibility to advocate in the interest of the UC Irvine student body; and

Whereas, Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude is a transgender Filipina woman who was found dead in the bathroom of a hotel in Olongopo, Philippines; and

Whereas, Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton was accused of strangling and drowning Jennifer Laude in a toilet bowl after finding out that she was transgender; and

Whereas, Joseph Scott Pemberton, age 19, had been detained on board the USS Peleliu at the Subic Bay Freeport, about 50 miles northwest of Manila, after he was implicated in the death of 26-year-old Jennifer Laude; and

Whereas, Laude was with another transgender woman who left with Pemberton to the hotel that evening; and

Whereas, the name of the other transgender woman, Mark Clarence Gelviro, also known as Barbie, serves as a witness to Laude and Pemberton being in the hotel at the night Laude was murdered; and

Whereas, Laude wanted to leave before Pemberton found out that they were transgender; and

Whereas, Laude was found dead the next day by a motel clerk; and

Whereas, an autopsy report indicated that Laude died due to asphyxia by drowning; and

Whereas, on Wednesday, October 15, Laude’s family filed first against Pemberton before the prosecutor's office in Olongapo City; and

Whereas, Marine Lance Corporal Jairn Michael Rose said later that night when they returned to the ship, Pemberton confided in him that after the woman undressed and he discovered that she was transgender, he choked her with his arm until she stopped moving; and

Whereas, Pemberton is one of many U.S troops that have participated in joint military exercises; and

Whereas, under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which allows U.S. forces to conduct combat drills in the country, the Philippines can prosecute American service members, but the U.S. has custody over them from the commission of the offense until completion of all judicial proceedings; and

Whereas, Pemberton will remain in the Philippines, in the U.S custody, during the court proceedings under the VFA; and

Whereas, testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chaired by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, witnesses said on Wednesday that U.S. Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was not aware that Jennifer Laude was a transgender; and

Whereas, Barbie said he and Laude were having iced tea at Ambyanz when they saw the group of Pemberton entering the bar and Barbie described Pemberton as friendly but also noticed that the U.S. Marine was inebriated at the time; and

Whereas, The Philippine Supreme Court, however, ruled in 2009 that convicted U.S. military personnel must serve any sentence in Philippine detention; and

Whereas, Laude is not the first victim in this hate crime towards transphobia, misogyny, homophobia, and racism; and

Whereas, the Philippine Department of Justice panel ruled that there is not sufficient and direct evidence to prosecute Pemberton for his actions; and

Therefore let it be resolved ASUCI acknowledges the life of Jennifer Laude and urges for justice for Laude and of all others subjected to discrimination, suppression, and exploitation; and

Let it further be resolved that ASUCI condemns the actions of Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton through further perpetuating the norm of transphobia, misogyny, homophobia, and racism; and

Let it be finally resolved that ASUCI Legislative encourages ASUCI Office of EVP to support and publicize any future campaign that is hosted by Kababayan (Kaba) in regards to campaigns by Jennifer Laude.