Everytown for Gun Safety Commemorates Trans Day of Visibility this Sunday, Releases Critical New Research on the Rise in Trans Homicides Highlighting Data-Backed Prevention Measures

New Report Underscores Critical Need to Address Gun Use in Crimes Against Trans People, Which Disproportionately Impacts Black Trans Women  

NEW YORK – Everytown for Gun Safety released the following statement to commemorate Transgender Day of Visibility this Sunday. Gun violence deeply affects the transgender community and the broader queer community. While Transgender Day of Visibility is meant to be a moment to celebrate trans excellence, violence against the trans community continues to rise at an alarming rate. In reflecting on this year in which hate-motivated gun violence impacted many LGBTQ+ community members, it is crucial to acknowledge the disproportionate effect gun violence has on marginalized communities and the work that must be done to disarm hate in the U.S..

Everytown’s new research reveals there have been 263 transgender homicides in the last seven years (through the end of 2023). With approximately three-quarters of these homicides involving a gun, the report underscores the urgency to address gun violence as a key factor in these tragic deaths. Another stark revelation from the study is the disproportionate impact on Black transgender women, who represent a substantial majority of the victims, further magnified by the prevalence of firearm use in these crimes. See data here. 

“Today should be a celebration of resilience, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the disproportionate violence endured by the trans community,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “This research reaffirms a troubling trend we’ve observed for years: weak gun safety laws coupled with bigotry place trans individuals at deadly risk, particularly Black trans women. Our movement remains committed to centering their stories, celebrating their joy, and advocating for lawmakers to disarm hate.”

“Nearly half of these incidents involving guns are in southern states, too many of which have both lax gun safety laws and proposed or enacted legislation targeting transgender people for unequal treatment. There is a direct line between policy decisions and the safety of marginalized communities,” said Sarah Burd-Sharps, Senior Director of Research at Everytown for Gun Safety. “In order to keep trans and gender-expansive people safe, lawmakers at every level must take action to prioritize legislation that protects individuals from hate crimes motivated by a victim’s gender identity.”

This tragic trend isn’t happening in a vacuum. Transgender people are 2.5 times as likely to be victims of violence as cisgender people, and it comes as legislators in states across the country have been waging war against the rights of the trans community. 

Media and law enforcement also have a duty to respect and affirm people’s names and genders, not only out of respect for their loved ones and communities but also so that research on the ongoing violence against transgender people is accurately understood and represented. 

There is much more work to be done to prevent gun violence against the LGBTQ+ community. A vital part of the solution to this problem is to have comprehensive research that develops a deeper understanding of the intersection between gun violence and the queer community, including firearm suicide, in order to find the best solutions.

Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund has tracked homicides of transgender and gender-expansivepeople in the U.S. since 2017. In addition to breaking down gun violence to the state- and county level, the platform includes a database of known trans or gender-nonconforming homicide victims in the United States. 

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