The 21st Show

Rising violence against the trans community

Produced by Ryan Andrew Wilde
 
People protest outside the Netflix at Vine building in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. Critics and supporters of Dave Chappelle's Netflix special and its anti-transgender comments gathered outside the company's offices Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, with

People protest outside the Netflix at Vine building in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. Critics and supporters of Dave Chappelle's Netflix special and its anti-transgender comments gathered outside the company's offices Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, with "Trans Lives Matter" and "Free Speech is a Right" among their competing messages. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Listen
Download

2021 has been the deadliest year on record for transgender and gender-variant people.  This year there have been at least 46 transgender people killed in the United States, and they are disproportionately people of color.  Within the last year 5 have been from our state of Illinois, all Black women: Disaya Monaee Smith, Brianna Hamilton, Tiara Banks, Tyianna Alexander, and Courtney “Eshay” Key. 

Suicide is another issue that affects the Transgender community at disproportionate rates. According to a 2015 survey, 81% of those identifying as Transgender have thought about suicide, and 40% have attempted suicide at some point in their lives; nearly 10 times more than the national average. To talk about these issues, The 21st was joined by the Trans & Gender Non-Binary Community Health Manager for Howard Brown Health and the niece of an Illinois trans woman who died by suicide. 

GUESTS: 

Trisha Lee Holloway (she/her/hers)

Trans & Gender Non Binary Community Health Manager for Howard Brown Health, a LGBTQ affirming health care organization in Chicago.

Itzhel Jihan (they/them/theirs)

Niece of the late Lavender Kieran Jihan, a 23-year-old Carbondale native who died by suicide in June of 2021.

 

 

Prepared for web by Owen Henderson

Help shape our coverage on The 21st by joining our texting group and answering weekly questions. To join, text “TALK” to 217-803-0730 or sign up with your phone number below: