[News] [New Zealand] Julianne Kramer named as pilot killed in crash

[Stephanie Stevens]

Gay Express, New Zealand


Julianne Kramer named as pilot killed in crash

Posted on 09 November 2012.


[Photo: Julianne Kramer named as pilot killed in crash]

Trans woman Julianne Kramer has been named as the pilot tragically
killed in a helicopter crash between Wanaka and Queenstown on Thursday
night.

Kramer’s parents are understandably shocked by the news; Sergeant
Nicholson who was with her parents in Queenstown says “Obviously with
the trauma of a sudden incident and being unexpected and no
opportunity to say goodbye – all those things will weigh heavily”.

Conditions on the day of the accident have been described as “perfect”
with many saying that the helicopter appeared to just drop out of the
sky.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at Spotburn Station in Cardrona
but were too late to save Kramer. The Otago rescue Helicopters and
Aspiring Helicopters in Wanaka assisted emergency services.

With more than 30 years experience, Kramer was the chief flying
instructor at Wakatipu Aero Club as well as running the commercial
division of the Club.

The reporting of this story in mainstream media is causing upset for
some in the GLBT community, as many news outlets have been referring
to Kramer using the pronoun “he”. The Wellington Young Feminists
Collective say “Julianne identified as a woman, yet the articles
consistently call her “Julian.” What an awful way to be sent off.”

It is believed that Kramer’s family may have requested she be referred
to with male pronouns.

-- Sarah Murphy


© 2012 Express Online

http://www.gayexpress.co.nz/2012/11/julianne-kramer-named-as-pilot-killed-in-crash/