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HRC Releases Annual Report on Epidemic of Anti-Transgender Violence
• By Sarah McBride
• November 18, 2019
HRC Foundation released A National Epidemic: Fatal Anti-Transgender Violence in
the United States in 2019, a distressing report honoring the at least 22
transgender people and gender non-conforming people killed in 2019 and
detailing the contributing factors that lead to this tragic violence. The
report comes two days ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which, this
year, marks the 20th annual commemoration of transgender people killed during
the preceding year.
“Transgender women of color are living in crisis, especially Black transgender
women,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “While the details of the cases
documented in this report differ, the toxic intersection of racism, sexism,
transphobia and easy access to guns conspire to deny so many members of the
transgender and gender non-conforming community access to housing, employment
and other necessities to survive and thrive. Every one of these lives cut
tragically short reinforces the urgent need for action on all fronts to end
this epidemic — from lawmakers and law enforcement, to the media and our
communities.”
A National Epidemic:Fatal Anti-Transgender Violence in the United States in
2019 explores many of the factors that can contribute to or facilitate fatal
violence. In many instances, systemic discrimination at the intersection of
gender identity and race lead to significant barriers to employment and
housing. This pushes many transgender and gender non-conforming people into
underground economies, including sex work, to survive and into circumstances
where they may be more likely to encounter violence.
The report also calls for the expansion of community-based resources and
programs to address the epidemic. Earlier this year, HRC announced it is
significantly expanding its work dedicated to justice for the transgender
community. The organization will advance new initiatives working alongside
community advocates to focus on economic empowerment; capacity-building
programs; targeted task forces in communities hardest hit by the epidemic of
anti-trans violence; and expanded public education campaigns.
There are a number of actions outlined in the report that lawmakers can take to
address the violence, including passing non-discrimination protections;
enhancing law enforcement response and training; improving data collection and
reporting; reforming laws that have the impact of criminalizing marginalized
communities and undermining public health; and adopting common-sense gun
violence protections.
This year’s annual report found that since the start of the year, at least 22
transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed in the U.S., all
but one were Black. Since January 2013, HRC has documented more than 150
transgender and gender non-conforming people who were victims of fatal
violence; at least 127 were transgender and gender non-conforming people of
color. Nearly nine in every 10 victims were transgender women and 58 percent of
all domestic deaths occurred in the U.S. South. These disturbing numbers likely
underreport deadly violence targeting transgender and gender non-confirming
people, who may not be properly identified as transgender or gender
non-conforming.
In addition to the 22 transgender and gender non-conforming people killed by
fatal violence, the report also profiles two other cases of transgender women,
Johana ‘Joa’ Medina and Layleen Polanco, whose deaths remain under
investigation. Both were likely impacted by circumstances fostered by hate,
indifference and dehumanization. Medina, 25, died at a hospital in El Paso,
Texas, just hours after being released from ICE custody. She suffered severe
health complications that went untreated while she was in detention, according
to Diversidad Sin Fronteras. Her family filed a wrongful death and personal
injury claim against ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. Polanco, 27,
was found dead in solitary confinement at Rikers Island on June 7. Her family
says authorities knew she had epilepsy and failed to provide her proper
treatment despite her condition.
The report comes just days after the Federal Bureau of Investigation released
2018’s hate crimes data, which found an alarming 34 percent increase in violent
hate-based attacks on transgender people between 2017 and 2018.
Last week, HRC commemorated the annual Transgender Awareness Week, which is
dedicated to illuminating both the progress and unfinished work in the fight
for transgender equality. Throughout the week, HRC featured several transgender
activists on the frontlines of change across the country, including Kiara St.
James and Marissa Miller. On Wednesday, transgender people and their allies
will gather in communities across the country to mark Transgender Day of
Remembrance.
For more information on the Human Rights Campaign’s work on transgender
equality, visit: http://www.hrc.org/explore/topic/transgender.
https://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-releases-annual-report-on-epidemic-of-anti-transgender-violence-2019
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