Op-Ed: Please listen to trans people! A reflection on transphobia

By Jay Kratz kratzjay@grinnell.edu

Content warning: contains discussion of violence, transphobia, school shootings and suicide

When I clicked on the hashtag #schoolshooting on Twitter late in the afternoon on March 27, the first image I saw was of a shooter’s professional headshot next to their name and pronouns (he/him). Female, read the headline of the tweet. Fuck, I thought.

I woke up at 5 a.m. the next morning and checked Twitter again. I saw that Elon Musk had promoted a tweet by some right-wing commentator. It had four different shootings listed with the repeating phrase: “shooter identified as trans.” Well, there it is. Not only are children dead, but the tragedy will doubtlessly be used to bolster attacks a trans person. against trans people across the country for the crime of existing. I am even more terrified for my life and rights as

>> Continued on page 7