This post uses “transgender” and/or “trans” as umbrella terms to encompass various forms of gender nonconformity. I recognize that not all transgender individuals are non-binary, and not all non-binary individuals identify as transgender, in order to represent gender diversity I also use the term gender non conforming.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is often framed as violence against women but extends beyond this scope to include violence targeting transgender and gender nonconforming people. Transphobia, defined as “discrimination against, aversion to, or fear of transgender people” (Merriam-Webster), is not just a social prejudice—it is a form of GBV. At its core, transphobia targets individuals for expressing their gender identity and challenging rigid societal norms of gender. While the expressions of transphobia vary across contexts, it remains a global issue that demands urgent attention. This violence, as it is conducted on the basis of gender, is gender-based violence. Transphobia manifests in various intersecting violent forms: institutional, physical, and political.
Transphobia is not merely an individual bias but a systemic issue entrenched in institutions. Transgender and nonbinary people face systemic opposition to their existence. They often are subjected to the pathologization of their identities. Framing transness as an illness or disorder invalidates their experiences and entrenches discrimination within institutions. This mindset persists today, evident in political efforts to restrict gender-affirming care, particularly for trans youth. Such policies deny life-saving medical care—an act that must be recognized as a form of GBV.
The physical risks trans people face are staggering. According to a study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law: “Transgender people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated or simple assault.” This same study found that in homes with a transgender person living there, there was a higher rate of property damage than in households with only cisgender people. Further, research has shown that transgender people disproportionately experience intimate partner violence, 2.2 times more likely to experience physical IPV, and 2.5 times more likely for sexual IPV, compared to cisgender counterparts. Yet even after surviving such trauma, systemic barriers often prevent access to recovery and support. From healthcare providers who lack the competency to work with trans/GNC people to shelters that deny trans people safe refuge, the systems designed to protect survivors often fail them.
In addition to these abuses, there is also insufficient research and data collection on violence against these communities. Documenting gender-based violence against trans/non-binary people presents significant challenges due to incomplete or unreliable data. In Human Rights Watch’s report, The Epidemic of Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in the United States, they stated: “Although advocates, bloggers, and media groups have elevated the epidemic of violence against trans and gender non-conforming people in the past several years, data collection is often incomplete or unreliable when it comes to violent and fatal crimes against the trans community. Some victims’ deaths may go unreported or misreported, while other victims may not be identified as trans or gender non-conforming.” It is also important to note that out of all members of the transgender and GNC community, trans women, specifically trans women of color, are the most at risk of violence and being murdered. The lack of concrete data on the trans community globally obscures the full scope of violence and hinders targeted responses and policy-making efforts.
Compounding this issue is the rise of the anti-gender movement. These movements weaponize trans and gender-diverse identities, increase their marginalization, and put them at higher risk of persecution. The politicization of these identities extends the GBV trans/GNC folks’ experience to more levels – from interpersonal, structural, and institutional politics.
Recognizing transphobia as GBV is a critical step toward addressing the unique challenges faced by transgender and non-binary people. Addressing transphobia as GBV requires systemic change, from dismantling discriminatory policies to ensuring inclusive services. Transgender and nonbinary people deserve not only to live free from violence but also to thrive in a society that values and affirms their identities. By recognizing transphobia as GBV and working to protect transgender and GNC people, we take a critical step toward justice and equality.
