Joe Biden vows to end the epidemic of violence against trans people of colour during his first 100 days as president
Former Vice President Joe Biden (Photo: Michael Brochstein / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
Joe Biden has vowed to tackle the epidemic of violence against trans people of colour should he become president.
At least ten transgender people have been murdered in the US so far in 2020, including four in Puerto Rico.
The most recent victim is 28-year-old transgender woman Nina Pop, who was found stabbed to death in her apartment in Missouri last week in a possible hate crime.
Addressing the murders, Joe Biden said in a Facebook post: “We cannot be silent in the face of rising violence against transgender people of colour — like the recent tragedies in Missouri and Puerto Rico.
“It’s our moral obligation to end this epidemic, and ensure everyone can live open and proud and free from fear.”
Joe Biden has plan to tackle transgender violence in first 100 days.
The presidential hopeful’s plan on LGBT+ issues details how he will work to tackle the epidemic of violence.
It states: “As a direct response to the high rates of homicide of transgender people — particularly transgender women of colour — the Biden Administration will make prosecuting their murderers a priority.
“And during his first 100 days in office, Biden will direct federal resources to help prevent violence against transgender women, particularly transgender women of colour.”
The presumptive Democratic nominee also pledges to pass the Equality Act, which has languished in the Senate since being passed in the House in May 2019.
“Recognising that employment and housing discrimination lead to increased risk of homelessness and violence, Biden will also work to pass the Equality Act to reduce economic barriers and social stigma and the LGBTQ Essential Data Act to help collect a wide variety of critical data about anti-trans violence and the factors that drive it.
“He will also direct his Administration to update the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports Supplementary Homicide Reports (UCR-SHR) to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
“Currently, theses reports do not include categories for sexual orientation and gender identity, hampering our ability to fully diagnose and measure the extent of violent crimes against transgender, gay, lesbian, and bisexual victims.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee (Photo: Michael Brochstein / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
Biden has also vowed to ensure that trans people are able to “affirm one’s gender marker and expand access to accurate identification documents”.
Trans rights groups have thrown their support behind the presumptive Democratic nominee
The National Center for Transgender Equality threw its support behind Biden last week, as did Human Rights Campaign.
Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund, said: “Joe Biden is the advocate and president we need at this consequential moment. He has the temperament, the experience and wisdom to lead our country.
“Throughout his career in public service, work as a private citizen through the Biden Foundation, and now his campaign to lead our nation, Biden has demonstrated his commitment to transgender people and the LGBTQ community.”
Keisling added: “Biden has a strong agenda for addressing the issues that face transgender Americans, a record of getting big ideas done during his time as vice president in the Obama-Biden administration and a history of ensuring that transgender people are protected, including protections for transgender women as part of the reauthorisation of the landmark Violence Against Women Act he authored.
“Over the years he has consistently made clear that ‘Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time.’ With Joe Biden, we know we will be engaged, we will be seen, and we will not be erased.”
