Following the brutal murder of local transexual teen Lauryn Paige, who was stabbed over
60 times, her crumpled body dumped on the edge of a local highway, there was a complete
lack of interest or coverage in the local press. I wanted to know why. So I followed her
steps into the underground world of drag, transgender, and transexuality in Austin. The
scene i found was complex. Fraught with drugs, prostitution, confusion and pain, there was
also a strong sense of community and caring among those questioning and discovering their
gender and sexual identity. Page's murder was not uncommon, transexuals have a significantly
higher murder rate than the rest of the population. The lack of attention it generated was normal
as well, more murders of transexuals go unreported or uninvestigated than any other single group.
But the thriving community at the heart of her experience was built around discovering,
experimenting and celebrating sexual difference.