A Murdered "Transgender Woman," and Numbers

This murder victim, found in a burning vehicle, was described as "brutally" killed.  "Activists" have chalked this up as the 18th "transgender" person murdered in the United States this year.

For those who have not been following the numbers, the tally of "transgender" murder victims in 2018 was 26 and in 2017, the number was 29.  So, looking at the portion of the year that has passed, we are about on track with 2018, and still down from the figures in 2017.

As in most of the cases, police do not know whether the most recent victim's gender status was a motivational factor in the killing.  Often, risk factors such as involvement in drug or sex trafficking, or other criminal enterprises, are tied to the circumstances in which transgender decedents were murdered.

An LGBTQ activist commenting in the story (ironically named George Wallace) claims that "transgender women of color are killed at a greater rate than that of their peers."  This likely depends on who one considers to be "their peers."  Statistical analyses I have performed in prior years shows it not to be true that "transgender women of color" are killed at a greater rate than biologically female women of color.  In fact, the numbers I examined reflected that they are killed at a lesser rate, possibly because, as physiological males, they generally have greater physical strength with which to defend themselves.  It is possible (and I have not statistically analyzed the contention) that "transgender women of color" are killed "at a greater rate" than those who are not "of color."  However, it is extremely well documented that biological "women of color" (with the exception of Asian and Pacific Islanders) are killed at a higher rate than biological "white" women.  Accordingly, this also does not support the premise that the "transgender" identity element of the "transgender women of color" is a significant factor in their relative rate of mortality from homicide.

In short, to the extent that LGBTQ "activists" are attempting to use the small number of annual murders of "transgender women of color" to suggest that "transgender women of color" need special protections against homicide, the case has gone objectively unsupported.

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/black-transgender-woman-23-found-dead-burned-car-florida-n1053006