GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 16: A sign reading Rest In Peace Brianna is seen among candles at a … [+]
Three hundred and twenty transgender and genderqueer people were reported murdered this year, a new report says.
The Trans Murder Monitoring report tracks murders reported in the media each year, this year’s report includes deaths between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023.
The vast majority of those killed (94%) were trans women or trans-feminine individuals.
Most were black and many were also sex workers. 80% of the reported murders involved transgender people who were victims of racism, a 15% increase from last year.
Many of the victims were young people. The age group with the most homicide victims was between 19 and 25 years old. Overall, people aged between 19 and 40 made up three-quarters (77%) of the reported deaths.
Almost three-quarters (73%) of recorded murders occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the epicenter of the problem in Brazil, where almost a third (31%) occurred.
A global map of all murders tracked by the project since 2008, with heat signatures showing where … [+]
There were also killings in Armenia, Belgium and Slovakia reported for the first time.
In the UK, the high-profile murder of a young 16-year-old teenager Brianna Ghey included. It would have he turned 17 last week.
This year, the death toll is down from 2021’s peak of 375 murders.
However, the report’s authors say their analysis of the data continues to point to the same trends as in previous years. This is particularly acute when trans people live and are attacked because of signs of misogyny, racism, xenophobia and pornophobia.
Reading the data and the list of names, the violence against the victims is intense. Although almost half (46%) of the victims were shot, many were beaten, stabbed and burned afterwards.
The annual report, published to mark International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which takes place each year on November 20, is compiled by Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide. Today’s release marks the start of Trans Awareness Week.
LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM – FEBRUARY 14: People attend a candlelight vigil in memory of the 16-year-old … [+]
The report tracks how many transgender people are murdered each year
The Trans Murder Monitoring report has been published annually since 2008. Since the project began 15 years ago, they have recorded more than 4,600 deaths.
The report tracks homicides that occur each year between October 1 and September 30.
However, it is only able to monitor what is reported in the media, which means that the figures likely represent only a small glimpse of the reality on the ground.
Many hate crimes and murders go unreported or, importantly, are misreported in the media – meaning the true death toll could be much higher.
The list is compiled by Repentance against transphobia worldwide (TvT), a TGEU project, sourcing local and national news covering deaths and murders.
The violence, horror and murders are captured by TvT, which has a full list of all those killed this year.
Members of the transgender and LGBTQ community hold candles as they take part in his vigil … [+]
Trans Day of Remembrance 2023: Report published annually to mark the event
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is a day that remembers those transgender and intersex people who have been victims of homicide.
It was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to commemorate Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998.
The vigil commemorated all transgender people lost to violence since the death of Rita Hester and the annual tradition has begun.
Although the event started in the US, TDoR now happens in many parts of the world.
International Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed on November 20, 2023.
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