The Texas chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement after Kiér Laprí Kartier, a 21-year-old Black trans woman, was shot and killed in Arlington, Texas. At this time, police are still working to identify suspects and potential motives.
“Our hearts are with Kiér, her loved ones, and all those affected by her tragic death,” said Michelle Herskowitz, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Weak gun safety laws and anti-trans legislation in Texas have created an environment where hate-fueled violence can proliferate. We cannot sit quietly while gun violence against members of the trans community continues to destroy lives, families, and communities.”
Kiér is at least the 38th transgender or gender non-conforming person to be killed in 2021 in the United States and Puerto Rico, although it’s likely there have been more deaths that have gone unreported or victims who have been misgendered. Kiér’s murder comes amidst a record-breaking year for anti-transgender legislation and follows permitless carry going into effect in Texas, further weakening the state’s gun safety laws.
2020 was the deadliest year on record for trans and gender nonconforming people in the U.S., with at least 36 people being shot and killed. Some trends from 2017 to 2020 that are on track to continue in 2021:
- Guns are the most frequently used weapon in the murder of trans people. Three-fourths of trans people killed in America were killed with a gun.
- Black trans women account for the majority of homicide victims in the trans community. To put this into perspective, while Black people make up 16% of the trans population, 75% of known trans homicide victims between 2017 and 2020 were Black.
Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund has tracked homicides of transgender and gender non-comforming people in the U.S. since 2017. In addition to breaking down gun violence to the state- and county-level, the platform includes a database of known trans or gender nonconforming homicide victims in the United States.
