You may have heard the tragic news…. On February 9th, 2024, while at school, sixteen-year-old Nex Benedict was assaulted in a bathroom by three older girls, causing the teen to fall and hit their head. The next day, Nex died from these wounds. Sadly, acts of violence are not an unfamiliar reality in the trans community. Each year on November 20th the Transgender Day of Remembrance is dedicated to those murdered during the past year due to transphobia.
Although transgender people are only .05% of the population, they have become social and political targets. According to The Williams Institute, transgender people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime. Between 2016-2017, the FBI reported an increase in trans-related hate crime by 9%. With the dark shadow of social media putting fuel on the fire, there is a surge of online harassment that bleeds over into hate crimes and discriminatory legislation. This year alone, there have been 115 bills proposed to limit transgender rights that range from access to medical care to what pronouns are allowed. An author with the Anti-Discrimination League writes, “These bills send the clear and dangerous message that those in power are invested in policing and enforcing a gender binary rooted in inaccurate and outdated stereotypes.” It is painful to watch the gains made for equality and acceptance continue to devolve.
I have been privileged to work with the community in Wheat Ridge for over twenty years and continue to be awed by their willingness to live authentically, despite the hostility they face. I hope each and every one of us can rally behind legislation like the Equality Act that helps validate, protect, and affirm these beautiful people. Let’s vote for representatives dedicated to this cause, willing to fight against any kind of rhetoric aimed at compromising the rights of our citizens. It’s time to call out hate speech so we never become desensitized to ugly, harmful attitudes and actions. If this is a community you want to help protect, please contact The Center on Colfax for their suggestions. This is a place in Denver dedicated as a safe and welcoming place for Colorado’s proud, diverse LGBTQ community.
“It takes no compromise to give people their rights… it takesno money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” — Harvey Milk
For further Consideration:
Violence Against Transgender People Is Not A Myth
PBS Poll Shows Overwhelming Opposition to Anti-Transgender Laws