Violence against transgender people in the United States
This article is missing information about transgender men and non-binary people. (Article was previously titled "Violence against transgender women in the United States".).(November 2021) |
Violence against transgender people in the United States includes sexual, physical, and emotional violence. These acts of gender-based violence may result in the death of a transgender person. Transgender people are more likely to be violently attacked than cisgender ones.[1] The murder rate for transgender individuals is estimated to be lower than that of cisgender people, though the trend is reversed for young Black or Latina transgender women.[2] Between 2008 and 2020, 271 murders on trans people were reported in USA, giving c. 0.83 murders per 1,000,000 inhabitants and placing USA somewhere in the middle between "safe" and "unsafe" states, with reservation for inaccuracies and possible underreporting from some locations. [3]
Sexual violence
Sexual violence is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an "experience of a sexual act (e.g., rape, unwanted sexual touching, pressure or coercion to engage in sexual acts) committed against an individual without their freely given consent".[4] The documentation of sexual assault cases against transgender individuals is limited. According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 37% of transgender women and 51% of transgender men have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime.[5]
Instances of sexual violence against transgender women happen for the first time at the median age of 15 years old.[6] The notion that transgender youth are more likely to experience acts of sexual violence has been verified by several other studies. These acts occur most often by peers and other young people. This is attributed to the way that their peers view their gender identity.[7][failed verification]
Perpetrators of sexual violence against transgender women are often known by the victim, in some instances they are romantic partners or family members.[8] A 2008 study found that, out of 80 perpetrators reported by transgender men and women, 81% of the perpetrators were male, 16% were female, and 2% were transgender. .[9]
Physical violence
A study published in 2021 by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that transgender people in the United States are more likely to be violently attacked than cisgender people. The study found 86.1 attacks for every 1,000 transgender women and 23.7 attacks for every 1,000 cisgender women; it also found 107.5 attacks for every 1,000 transgender men and 19.8 attacks for every 1,000 cisgender men.[1]
Transgender women who are sex workers experience a disproportionately higher level of violence in the United States.
Homicide
A 2017 analysis published by Alexis Dinno in the American Journal of Public Health attempted to estimate the transgender murder rate using homicide data from the Transgender Day of Remembrance and National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, along with estimates of the overall transgender population in the United States. The study generated a number of potential estimates of the trans murder rate, ranging from around 7 times lower than the rate for cis people (assuming no undercounting of trans murders, and a trans prevalence of 0.6% of the population) up to 4 times higher (assuming 80% of trans murders are not accounted for, and a trans prevalence of 0.1%), ultimately concluding that the trans murder rate was "likely to be less than that of cisgender individuals". Dinno described this as a surprising result, given that transgender people are more likely to be financially vulnerable and report experiencing high rates of violence. However, Dinno found that young (aged 15 to 34) black and Latina trans women were "almost certainly" killed at a higher rate than cis women.[2]
Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse is often directed against trans people with the intent to harm or humiliate the victim. In a recent study of crimes reported against transgender individuals, the researchers found that in many instances there were reports of verbal abuse directed towards the victims. The examples of verbal abuse reported during the crimes included homophobic and transphobic slurs and language. These attacks were mainly towards their gender and perceived identity. These examples of verbal abuse label the attacks as a hate crime.[7][failed verification]
Violence against transgender women of color
Young transgender
Violence towards trans women of colour is often perpetrated by a romantic partner or a potential romantic partner. Cisgender men have been found to dehumanize transgender women of color based on stereotypes that they associate with the community, for example that transgender women of color perform sex work or suffer from substance abuse. These stereotypes has been perpetuated by both straight and gay cisgender men that are seeking a romantic relationship with a transgender woman of color. Transgender women of color also report that cisgender men often engage in the hyper-sexualization of the community, leading to trans women feeling objectified.[14]
Cisgender men that enter a romantic relationship with a transgender woman of color often conceal their romantic involvement; this includes refusal to be seen with a transgender woman in public, on social media, or in any way that might suggest a relationship. This has been attributed to the social stigma surrounding these women.[14]
These forms of rejection, concealment, and over sexualization may result in psychological trauma. Some transgender women of color have reported that they have never been in a healthy relationship. This deeply affects their feelings of self worth.[14]
Resources for transgender people experiencing violence
There are several resources available for members of the LGBTQ+ community when they are in times of crisis. One leading national organization for the LGBTQ+ youth is The Trevor Project, which assists with crisis intervention and suicide prevention.[15]
Another available resource is the Trans Lifeline, which is an organization that provides a hotline for direct emotional and financial support to transgender individuals.[16]
See also
- Trans panic
- Violence against prostitutes
- Violence against LGBT people
- Violence against transgender people
- Transgender genocide
References
- ^ a b "Transgender people over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime". Williams Institute. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
- ^ PMID 28727530.
- ^ transrespect.org/en/map/trans-murder-monitoring/?submap=tmm_relative_numbers Transrespect versus Transphobia, retrieved 2021-11-03
- . Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality.
- ^ . Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ PMID 28787204.
- S2CID 57665777.
- . Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ ISSN 1359-1789.
- PMID 11289729.
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