Trans killings are at an all time high in the US in 2017

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The killings of trans people in the US are at an all-time high this year.

At least 25 trans people have been killed in homicides in the US this year.

The Human Rights Campaign on Friday revealed that 102 trans people have been killed in the US in the past five years.

But this year, the number of killings reached an all-time high at 25.

Trans killings are at an all time high in the US in 2017
Derricka Banner

Another report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs states that the number of trans people killed in 2017 is 26.

But both the HRC and the NCAVP say that their numbers may be incomplete as trans people are misgendered in reports.

The HRC points the finger at President Trump and his Administration.

In a tweet, the organisation said that out of 6,121 hate crimes in 2016, 1,076 were based on sexual orientation bias and 124 were based on gender identity bias.

“Since the election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, there has been a notable increase in the vitriol and anti-transgender rhetoric – from the top levels of government down through the rest of American society,” the group said in a statement.

A 47 page report from the HRC also expands on the claims, saying that the President encourages discriminatory legislation.

“President Trump and his administration have both directly and indirectly exacerbated existing injustices long endured by transgender Americans, while encouraging intolerant lawmakers to push an onslaught of discriminatory legislation at federal, state and local levels,” the report adds.

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A youth survey was also carried out by the HRC following Trump’s election.

It found that 70 percent of respondents had witnessed bullying and harassment since the election last year.

Trans killings are at an all time high in the US in 2017
Derricka Banner

Almost half of respondents said they had attempted to hide their identity since President Trump took office.

The report was released this week to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance, which takes place on Monday 20 November.

Derricka Banner, who was shot last month was the 20th trans person unlawfully killed in the US in 2017.

Trans man Kashmire Redd, 28, was stabbed several times and killed a week before Banner, allegedly during an argument between him and Doris Carrasquillo (pictured below), who he shared an apartment with, becoming the 19th trans person to be killed in the US this year.

Redd’s death came just weeks after Kiwi Herring was shot dead by local police in Missouri.
Herring was the 18th trans person to be killed this year, and the rest of the victims are largely trans women of colour.

Shocking CCTV footage released this weekend showed a trans woman being shot in the back during a robbery in Detroit.

The 36-year-old woman was shot during the robbery after two men got out of their car and pointed a gun at her.

In the footage released by police, the woman is seen dropping her bag and attempting to slowly back away.

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