According to a recent report, anti-trans regulations and speech have significantly increased in the US, where 53 transgender people have died and 32 have committed suicide.
Notably, despite the fact that these figures from the National Center for Transgender Equality’s (NCTE ) annual remembrance report have increased since last year, some experts claim that the actual number of fatalities is probably higher because it is harder for the trans community to provide accurate reporting and data.
According to Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, the executive director of the NCTE, “it is no accident that we are seeing an increase in anti-trans violence at the same time as we’re seeing a rise in transgender policy.” ” From 2020 to the present, we have broken the record for the number of anti-transgender costs always introduced.”
As “police attacks grow, so do the real attacks,” Heng- Lehtinen continued.
It is as a result of community signaling to people whose lives are valued, he claimed.
Murders from November 2022 through this quarter are included in the annual report, which is released every November. There have been 56 violent deaths and 53 violent deaths, 32 of which were suicide-related. Trans women accounted for the majority of fatalities in both groups.
According to Heng- Lehtinen, “while hate crimes in general are declining in the United States, they are truly rising when it comes to hatred offences against transgender people in particular and, even more so, hatred of transgendered women.”
The number of reported hate acts based on gender identity increased by 32.9 % from the previous year, according to FBI nationwide crime data released in October 2023. The report shows that climb, which has a disproportionately negative effect on people of color.
White people accounted for 64 % of nonviolent deaths, but Black people made up 51 % of violent deaths and Black trans women constituted 21 of the 53 such deaths.
These figures, according to Heng-Lehtinen, are “obviously completely out of proportion to the public people” and represent a “horrible wind of stigmatization, meeting sexism, and meet racism.”
Chyna Long, a 30-year-old Black trans dancer who was killed on October 8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is one of the people on NCTE’s record.
Long’s uncle Alissa Davenport stated on local news stop TMJ4 that she “lived in that and every day once she became who she wanted to become, which is Chyna.” She was content because she had lived to become Chyna.
The death, according to Davenport,” took a piece of our joy.”
They truly do n’t understand what they did to our family, she told the outlet,” to know this was done to her.”
Along with Long, a large number of the various Black trans people on the list were murdered violently. According to a GoFundMe page created by Bre’Asia Bankz’s home to cover her funeral costs, the woman was shot to death in Arizona in September, leaving behind the puppy Tiger, whom she adored as “her baby.”
DeVonnie J’Rae Johnson passed away in Los Angeles in August while receiving gender-affirming health treatment. Her family and friends claim that she wanted to give up to her society because she was an accomplished artist.
A’nee Johnson was assaulted and left in a city when she passed away in Washington, DC, in October. Eventually, she was struck by a moving vehicle.
Oluwaferanni Olarinde, a pal of Johnson’s, said to local Fox affiliate WTTG,” I want people to remember her for her devotion, her passion, and her consistency.” How regular she was in displaying her face and ensuring that her energy was unadulterated and vibrant.
The number of transgender people killed by violence is almost surely higher than what the statement claims, experts emphasize.
According to Heng-Lehtinen, “it is very challenging to thoroughly discover everyone who has been attacked in this manner.”
These challenges include getting IDs that match a child’s gender identification and being misidentified by family members who are still alive.
According to him, “many transgender people, especially Black transgenders, are hesitant to approach the police for assistance and feel like they ca n’t report crimes.” These cases and instances of violence are underreported because it will be too risky or they wo n’t be taken seriously.
” Despite achievements in critical report improvements, more comprehensive efforts are needed to maintain accurate picture and recognition,” said Kris Tassone, policy guidance for the NCTE and mind of the remembrance project, to the Guardian.
The statement includes at least 434 full trans people deaths worldwide, 336 of which were recorded as harsh, despite the fact that international monitoring efforts can be even more challenging.
Heng-Lehtinen thinks it’s “incredibly crucial” to bring “attention to the violent deaths of transgender people,” but he also stresses the fact that activists are also making strides.
” All of these problems are taking place, which is inspiring transgender people and those who care about us to get actively involved.” Therefore, individuals are retaliating,” he said. ” They’re going out and organizing a rally, giving testimony in state legislatures, or involving other people.”
He emphasizes increased representation of trans people in the media, particularly in video, as well as the running of more trans candidates for office at all levels, such as Sarah McBride of Delaware, Olivia Hill of Nashville, and Zooey Zephyr of Montana.
To turn this tide back, he said,” There’s a lot of resilience here, as well as lots of really, really important political managing happening.”
The complete 2023 recollection report, which includes images, illustrations, and memorials, is available online.
