Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduces New Resolution Condemning the Rise in Hate Crimes & Legislation Targeting the Transgender & Nonbinary Communities

Full text of the resolution here.

 “Violence and discrimination towards the transgender and nonbinary communities should never be tolerated. As a proud member of the LGBTQ community, it is shameful to witness legislatures across the country propose policies that endanger the physical and emotional safety of LGBTQ+ individuals and block critical access to health care, housing, and employment,” said Rep. Torres. “It is time for Congress to unequivocally denounce the violence and introduction of anti-transgender legislation nationwide, honor the lives lost, and unreservedly commit to protecting the well-being and safety of transgender and nonbinary communities.”

The introduction of the resolution coincides with the Pride Month and responds to the steep uptick in hate and violence this past year against the transgender and nonbinary community. Since January 2021, an unprecedented 33 States have introduced more than 100 bills that discriminate against transgender individuals. 2020 marked the deadliest year on record for transgender individuals in the United States and its territories, with 44 murders. In response to Puerto Rico being an epicenter for transgender killings, the Governor of Puerto Rico issued a state of emergency on the island to combat the violence.

Hate and violence drastically impacts the well-being of LGBTQ+ people. In the past year, 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth. While many of the State bills failed to pass their legislatures, the mental toll of witnessing these bills gain support is significant. 

“We cannot ignore the troubling lived realities experienced by members of the transgender and nonbinary community. We must uplift their narratives and take decisive action to advocate for their well-being. It is critical that we pass this resolution during Pride Month, a time where the LGBTQ community should be respected and celebrated,” said Rep. Torres

“Violence against the transgender community, and particularly transgender women of color, is a crisis within our community. Even as we celebrate Pride Month, we know that too many of us are fighting for recognition and the right to live their lives fully and safely. I appreciate the leadership of Caucus Co-Chair Ritchie Torres, working alongside our Transgender Equality Task Force, in making sure we do not leave anyone behind in our fight for equality and the Caucus is committed to doing everything we can to stem the tide of violence,” said Equality Caucus Chair, David N. Cicilline (RI-01). 

"We need the country to take a stance against anti-trans hate. The more we center transgender people in our work, in our conversations, and in our legislation, the closer we will get to safety and equity for our communities. There is still a long fight ahead of us in the battle against transphobia, and resolutions such as these remind us that there are allies with positions of power that are ready to fight with us,” said Michaé De La Cuadra, The TransLatin@ Coalition.

“Trans people have been fighting on our own for far too long and I am thankful to these Members of Congress for their solidarity. Laws that criminalize sex work and living with HIV — combined with a lack of access to accurate IDs and gender-affirming health care — contribute to the harassment and violence that many transgender and non-binary people experience on a day-to-day basis. Pride is — and always will be — protest,” said LaLa Zannell, Trans Justice Project, ACLU 

"Today, members of Congress are standing up for what's right and sending a strong message to state legislators around the country that anti-LBGTQ bills are just plain wrong. Elected officials can and should use their power to protect all Americans from discrimination, especially vulnerable trans and nonbinary youth who are under attack this year by attempts to take away their access to healthcare and athletics. The LGBTQ community direly needs federal protections to stem this growing tide of discrimination and hate; our most vulnerable community members will simply not be safe until the filibuster is eradicated so that the Equality Act can pass and finally offer nondiscrimination protections nationwide," said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO 

“Transgender and nonbinary youth deserve to live their lives without fear of violence and discrimination. We know these increased experiences of victimization can compound and contribute to poor mental health and suicide risk. We must raise public awareness, implement trans-inclusive data collection around violent deaths, and expand access to gender-affirming spaces and care to improve outcomes among trans youth,” said Sam Brinton (they/them), The Trevor Project.

The resolution is endorsed by the following organizations: Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), The Trevor Project, PFLAG National, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, The National LGBTQ Task Force, Family Equality, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, El/La Para TransLatinas, and The TransLatin@ Coalition