In observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance, Media Matters for America, the Trans Journalists Association, and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) published an FAQ for reporters covering anti-trans violence, a resource for journalists covering violence against the trans community, which disproportionately impacts Black trans women and often goes unreported.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual observation held on November 20 to honor the memory of trans and gender nonconforming people who have been murdered over the past year.
According to HRC, at least 37 trans or gender nonconforming people have been killed in the U.S. so far in 2020, making it the deadliest year on record for the trans community.
When reporting on anti-trans violence, news outlets often get it wrong and misgender or deadname victims. Media Matters found at least 139 reports from 109 different outlets that misidentified 23 of the 37 trans people who were reported killed in 2020 -- this is nearly two in three victims. The vast majority of these reports have not been updated.
This resource is meant to provide journalists who are committed to accurately covering violence against trans people with background information about the epidemic of anti-trans violence, answers to common questions, and links to additional guidelines.