In a concerning development, at least 33 transgender or gender nonconforming individuals have been killed in the United States over the past year. This figure has been highlighted in the annual report of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group in the nation. The report’s release coincided with the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a solemn day dedicated to memorializing those lost to anti-transgender violence.
Demographics of the Victims
The report by the HRC Foundation, the educational arm of the HRC, sheds light on the demographics of the victims. The average age of those who lost their lives was 28, with most fatalities resulting from gun violence. A staggering majority of the victims were young people of color, with Black trans women being disproportionately affected.
National Homicide Context
To put these figures in context, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 26,000 homicide deaths nationwide in 2021. The transgender or nonbinary population in the U.S. is estimated to be around 2.8 million, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, making the number of transgender victims represent a small but significant percentage of the community.
Underreporting and Misgendering Issues
The HRC’s report, which recorded a slight increase from the previous year’s total of 32, is believed to be an underestimation. This discrepancy is attributed to issues like underreporting, misreporting, and misgendering of victims. Kris Tassone, policy director for the National Center for Transgender Equality, reported an even higher figure of 53 based on various sources, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Remembering the Individuals
Tassone emphasized that behind these numbers are individual stories of people who deserved to live free from discrimination and hate. Victims like Tortuguita, London Starr, and Chyna Long are remembered not just as statistics but as individuals whose lives were tragically cut short.
Alarming Trends and Unknown Perpetrators
The HRC report reveals that 90% of the victims from November 2022 to November 2023 were people of color, with over 60% being Black transgender women. The majority of these victims were younger than 35, and in a third of the cases, the perpetrator remains unknown.
Initial Misidentification
A significant portion of the victims (over 51%) were initially misgendered by police or in news reports. This misgendering not only disrespects the identity of the victims but also complicates the understanding of the violence faced by the transgender and gender nonconforming community.
Urgent Call for Action
These disturbing findings underscore the urgent need for action to protect the transgender and gender nonconforming community from violence and discrimination. The report calls for increased awareness, supportive policies, and a societal shift to ensure the safety and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.
©loveinclusion.org
