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Debunking the Myths of WNN's #TransTerrorism
Examining the Falsehoods and Bias Behind the Claim of Rising Trans Violence
Well hello again PITT crew! Today we are going to talk about a recent article titled "#TransTerrorism" that has been shared with me by a reader (Thank you!). "TransTerrorism", originally written in 2023 by Iris for the Women News Network (WNN), and reposted on Substack a few weeks ago by "Campaign Club"1 makes some explosive claims that transgender individuals are engaged in a campaign of terrorism, dubbing it "#TransTerrorism".
However, these allegations quickly fall apart under scrutiny, revealing the piece to be a work of dangerous fearmongering rather than factual analysis. The article relies on distortions, cherry-picked anecdotes, and hateful rhetoric to paint the trans community as violent extremists, while ignoring the actual discrimination and violence that trans people face every day. Let's dive into the numerous problems with its arguments.
No Evidence of Organized "Trans Terrorism"
The central premise of the WNN article – that trans people are carrying out organized "terrorism" to "erase women" – is presented without any concrete evidence. The author points to a handful of unrelated criminal acts by individuals who happen to be transgender and tries to weave them into a sinister conspiracy theory. This is a classic association fallacy - the actions of a few troubled individuals cannot be used to smear an entire diverse population.
In reality, FBI hate crime statistics show that transgender people are far more likely to be victims of violent attacks than perpetrators.2 There is simply no data suggesting trans individuals commit crimes at higher rates than the general population, let alone that they are engaged in any kind of coordinated terror campaign. Isolated cases of unstable individuals don't represent a community of millions.
Misrepresenting the New Zealand Violence
The article's characterization of a March 2023 protest in New Zealand as an example of "Trans Terrorism" is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. According to local media reports, the incident involved chaotic clashes between trans rights advocates and anti-trans demonstrators, but no evidence of any organized terror plot.3
While some protesters acted unruly, their actions amounted to at worst vandalism and disorderly conduct, not terrorism by any reasonable definition. In fact, the one specific violent incident mentioned was a pro-trans politician being hit by a motorcycle that "appeared at the protest in support of [anti-trans activist] Keen-Minshull." So the actual violence cited seems to have originated from the anti-trans side, not from trans activists.4
Misrepresenting the Colorado Springs Shooting
Perhaps the most egregious distortion in the WNN piece is its coverage of the tragic 2022 Colorado Springs nightclub shooting. The article leans heavily on this attack to paint it as an act of "Trans Terrorism." However, it leaves out key details that complicate this narrative.
While the shooter's lawyers claimed they were non-binary, there are good reasons to doubt this was a sincere identity. The shooter never claimed to be non-binary before the attack, and neighbors reported a history of anti-LGBT statements.5 Trying to definitively label this incident "Trans Terrorism" based on limited info is irresponsible at best. The reality appears far more complex than the article suggests.
Misrepresenting Trans Shooters
The article tries to argue there is an epidemic of transgender mass shooters by listing a few examples of attackers who allegedly identified as trans or non-binary. However, this anecdotal cherry-picking ignores the statistical reality that the vast majority of mass shooters are cisgender men.
As Columbia University lecturer Anthony Zenkus notes in a tweet:
Selectively hyper-focusing on the trans identity of a tiny fraction of perpetrators while ignoring the demographics of the other 99% is a deliberately misleading tactic, not honest analysis.
Smearing LGBTQ Advocacy Groups
The WNN article makes the extraordinary accusation that mainstream LGBTQ rights organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and Stonewall are somehow tied to a wave of "Trans Terrorism." But it provides no credible evidence for this claim. Instead, it relies on out-of-context quotes and insinuations to portray these groups' advocacy work as sinister and extremist.
In reality, organizations like HRC and Stonewall focus on promoting equality and inclusion through public education, policy reform, and support services. [^1] Initiatives like Stonewall's Diversity Champions program, which the article depicts in ominous terms, simply involve auditing companies' HR policies to improve LGBTQ inclusion. Equating these efforts to violent extremism is an absurd false equivalence not supported by facts.
Cherry-Picked Anecdotes, Not Data
To argue that "Trans Terrorism" is escalating, the WNN piece relies entirely on a few sensationalized social media posts about troubled trans youth. However, these unverified anecdotes don't come close to proving any broader trend, especially in light of the statistical evidence that trans people face disproportionate violence and discrimination.
Major medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association support gender-affirming care as a way to improve mental health outcomes for trans youth.6 A handful of cherry-picked examples of unstable individuals cannot overturn this scientific consensus. The article's lack of comprehensive data reveals the weakness of its core arguments.
Dangerous Dehumanization
Perhaps most troublingly, the WNN article engages in blatant dehumanization of trans people, promoting a book that calls them "monsters" and potential killers. This kind of hateful stereotyping doesn't just stigmatize an already marginalized group - it has been used throughout history to justify oppression and real-world violence against vulnerable minorities.
Pseudoscience portraying an entire demographic as inhuman threats has a dark past. The article's use of this dangerous rhetoric to monger fear about trans people is not only wildly inaccurate, but deeply unethical. Such dehumanizing propaganda has no place in good faith discussions of public safety.
WNN Pulled from WordPress for TOS Violations
It's quite telling that the original version of this inflammatory article was removed from WordPress.com for violating their policies against hateful, harassing, and violent content. The fact that the piece was deemed to be in breach of basic content standards by a mainstream blogging platform suggests it is not a work of responsible journalism or analysis, but rather a deliberate attempt to spread anti-trans animus and panic.
The article's removal on these grounds is further evidence that it relies on dehumanizing hate speech rather than facts to make its case. When an argument depends on demonizing a vulnerable minority as monstrous terrorists, that reveals the weakness of its underlying logic. Readers should be highly skeptical of any piece that resorts to such unethical tactics.
Biased Sources
The WNN article promotes a book called "Transgender Killers: The Monsters That Walk Among Us" to support its arguments. However, this source has no credibility as an objective authority on the trans community. The author, Rene Jax, is a known anti-trans activist who profits from spreading sensationalized misinformation.
Jax's book is not a work of sober criminology, but a deliberately provocative screed that preys on readers' worst fears and prejudices. Any article that relies on such a blatantly biased and ideologically motivated text to make its central case should be treated with extreme caution. Facts must be separated from fearmongering.
Litany of Logical Fallacies
When we examine the WNN piece's arguments closely, a clear pattern of logical fallacies emerges:
1. Association Fallacy - Linking unrelated crimes by a few trans individuals to smear the entire trans community.
2. False Equivalence - Equating the equality/inclusion work of LGBTQ groups with terrorism.
3. Cherry Picking - Using isolated anecdotes of troubled trans youth to ignore broader evidence on gender-affirming care.
4. Appeal to Fear - Promoting a book calling trans people "monsters" to provoke irrational panic.
5. Hasty Generalization - Extrapolating the Colorado Springs shooter's identity issues to claim a trend of "Trans Terrorism."
The fact that the article relies so heavily on these flawed lines of reasoning reveals the weakness of its underlying case. When an argument depends on logical fallacies rather than solid evidence, that is a red flag that its central premise does not hold up to scrutiny.
The facts are clear: Trans people are not terrorists. They are human beings facing well-documented discrimination for living authentically. Nearly half of trans people report being verbally harassed or physically attacked for their identity.78 Articles like this only worsen that climate of hostility.
As a society, we must reject attempts to demonize marginalized groups with misinformation. We must recognize the humanity in one another and build a world of inclusion for all. Spreading myths of "Trans Terrorism" is not just inaccurate - it's an obstacle to the vital work of expanding equality and human rights.
So let's debunk dangerous propaganda with facts and empathy. Let's uplift the voices of the trans community and affirm their right to live free of fear and violence. Hate may be loud, but together, we can drown it out with a commitment to truth, dignity and justice for all.
WNN has been moved to Substack due to a Wordpress TOS violation
Trevett, C. (2023, January 28). Abuse, death threats and riots: New Zealand reckons with a toxic political discourse. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/28/abuse-death-threats-and-riots-new-zealand-reckons-with-a-toxic-political-discourse
Ibid
Wikipedia contributors. (2024, November 10). Colorado Springs nightclub shooting. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:25, November 13, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorado_Springs_nightclub_shooting&oldid=1256496293
American Medical Association. (n.d.). Advocating for the LGBTQ community. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/population-care/advocating-lgbtq-community
James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey: Executive summary. National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Executive-Summary-Dec17.pdf
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2024). Harassment and violence against LGBTIQ people on the rise.
Great now we’re being labeled as violent on top of everything else. I’m noticing some worrying parallels…