HOAX: White House Claim of a ‘Surge’ of ‘Hate-Fueled Violence’ Against Transgenders is Total Inversion of the Truth

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

HOAX: White House Claim of a ‘Surge’ of ‘Hate-Fueled Violence’ Against Transgenders is Total Inversion of the Truth

June 19, 2023 – The White House announced a new initiative on June 8 to counter a purported “surge” of “hate-fueled violence” against the LGBTQI+ community (1). But a review of evidence from the Department of Homeland Security and the Human Rights Campaign reveals no evidence of any “surge” of violence against transgender persons.

Department of Homeland Security: The White House “FACT SHEET” links to the Department of Homeland Security’s Summary of Terrorism-Related Threat to the United States (2). The DHS Summary lists four “terrorism-related” incidents that occurred in 2023.

One incident was the March shooting by transgender Audrey Hale of three students and staff members in Nashville (3). The other incident involved the burning of an Ohio church that was planning to hold a drag-themed event (4).

The two other incidents listed by DHS had no connection to LGBTQI+ issues (5,6).

Human Rights Campaign: The Human Rights Campaign tracks homicides of transgendered and nonbinary persons. Thus far in 2023, the HRC lists 12 homicides of these persons. A review of these cases provides no evidence of a “surge” of violence, or that the murders were “hate-fueled.” Indeed, the HRC reveals, “Most of these victims were killed by partners and acquaintances.” (7)

Real Surge of Violence: A surge of transgender-related violence has occurred in recent months. In contrast to the White House claim, the attacks have been perpetrated by transgender activists. SAVE has documented 20 such cases thus far in 2023. The incidents involved murders, bomb threats, and other assaults against parents, children, law enforcement, and others (8).

The most recent incident, reported on June 14, was the life sentence handed down to Dana Rivers, a prominent trans rights activist, for Rivers’ triple homicide of a lesbian couple and their son. Alameda County Judge Scott Patton described the bloody attack as “The most depraved crime that I’ve ever handled.” (9)

Overall, a detailed review of the cases listed by the Department of Homeland Security and the Human Rights Campaign identifies only one incident that could be classified as “hate-fueled” — the Ohio church conflagration. A single incident does not qualify as a “surge.”

In contrast, SAVE identified three incidents of violence by transgender persons in 2022, and 20 such cases thus far in 2023. This six-fold increase in a single year clearly represents a “surge” of violence committed by transgender individuals.

The claim of a “surge” of “hate-fueled” violence against the LGBTQI+ community is a categorical inversion of the truth.

SAVE urges persons to contact the White House and tell them to retract its dishonest “FACT SHEET” about transgender violence. Telephone: 202-456-1111. Email: comments@whitehouse.gov

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