32 transgender and gender non-conforming people killed in US this year, says Human Rights Campaign News
© WikiMedia (Phil Roeder)
32 transgender and gender non-conforming people killed in US this year, says Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Wednesday released its annual report tracking violence against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. The report comes a few days before the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 and is HRC’s tenth year of tracking such violence.

According to the report, 32 transgender and gender non-conforming individuals were killed in the US in 2022, bring the toll to 300 “violent” deaths since the HRC began tracking violence ten years ago. Last year, 2021, was the worst year since HRC started recording violence and fatalities, with 57 violent deaths. However, many deaths and incidents go unreported and the true toll is likely much higher. 

The report provides concerning statistics, including that two of this year’s deaths were caused by police or occurred during detention or incarceration. Additionally, about 85 percent of the victims identified by the HRC were individuals of color, with 65 percent being Black individuals. Approximately two-thirds of these murders were at the hands of someone the victim knew, with about 10 percent of these deaths committed by a family member. 

This report was released in the midst of the rise of anti-trans legislation across the nation, including various “Don’t Say Gay” bills and bans on gender-affirming care. The HRC offers a variety of intersectional factors that contribute to violence against trans people, including lack of proper healthcare, stigma, and racism. The report also comes in the middle of Transgender Awareness Week, which lasts from November 14 through 19, and highlights the challenges and violence trans individuals face.

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