Interview · moment 23 of 28
Debunking the 'Epidemic' of Trans Murders and the '35-Year Life Expectancy' Myth
from #204 - Katie Herzog | The Tim Dillon Show · #204
4 min
Guest
Katie uses HRC data to debunk claims of a trans murder epidemic, explaining most victims died from sex work-related violence or domestic issues rather than bias crimes, and traces the false '35-year trans life expectancy' statistic to a misapplied South American study.
- Tim argues trans murders aren't actually an epidemic, nor disproportionately high relative to other vulnerable groups.
- The '35-year life expectancy' statistic gets repeated constantly but comes from almost nowhere when investigated.
- Tim traces the statistic to a South American human rights organization studying murder victims in Brazilian favelas and sex work populations.
- The 80% of trans murder victims under 35 in that specific population tells you nothing about average trans people in the U.S.
- Many trans people don't come out until after 35, making the life expectancy claim nonsensical on its face.
- A study gets published, media picks up the press release, does no digging, celebrities repeat it, and it spreads like a virus through culture.
- Kamala Harris told an LGBT town hall attendee 'I know you are' being hunted, validating a claim that isn't true.
- There's no serial killer terrorizing trans women; what's happening is mass repetition of false statistics.
trans womenKamala HarrisUnited StatesBrazilian favelas