While every case is unique, far too often, we see the same themes and trends emerge in the fatal trans violence cases we report. Young trans women of color — particularly Black trans women, continue to be disproportionately affected. Victims are often killed by partners, family members, and acquaintances, and guns are used in the majority of deaths. Additionally, misgendering and deadnaming remain far too common in media and law enforcement’s reporting of these cases.
Some of these cases involve clear anti-trans bias. In others, the victim’s trans or gender expansive status may have made them more susceptible to violence by forcing them into unemployment, poverty, homelessness and/or survival sex work.
In all cases, it remains clear that the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia conspire to place the trans community at risk of fatal violence.
