A Deeper Look At Latin America's Transgender Violence Problem

November 20 was International Transgender Remembrance Day, which commemorates the lives of transgender people who have fallen victims to hate crimes. The day is especially poignant in Latin America, where the vast majority of the world's trans murders take place.

From October 2023 to September 2024, there were 255 recorded murders of transgender people in Latin America, accounting for 73% of all such homicides worldwide, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

In 2024, seven of the top ten countries with the most trans murders were in the Americas, including all in the top five. The United States ranked third, after Brazil and Mexico, and has since seen a rollback of trans rights under the administration of President Donald Trump.

These grim statistics don't even show the full picture, considering that many cases go unreported due to prejudices among law enforcement that lead officials to dismiss or improperly categorize the hate crimes.

As Latin America commemorates victims of transgender violence, the Latin Times spoke to experts to understand the causes of the problem, the current state of affairs, and what – if any – solutions might exist.

What lies behind trans violence in Latin America?

Despite being home to the majority of documented trans murders globally, Latin America is one of the stronger regions of the world when it comes to LGBTQ+ legal protections.

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay all have anti-discrimination laws protecting trans people, while Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Panama, and Uruguay legally recognize trans persons' names and gender identities.

But analysts underscore how laws do not necessarily translate into protections.

"Strong legal protections and high levels of violence against trans people coexist because laws rarely address the structural conditions that put this population at risk," explained Cristian González Cabrera, senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW).

While the law offers protection on paper, in practice trans people remain exposed to violence due to issues like social stigma, exclusion from economic opportunities, and discrimination in access to public services.

González also noted that even if the law changes at the national level, lower level functionaries and law enforcement officers may still be affected by bias.

This bias reflects broader societal prejudice in Latin America which stems from an "ultra macho culture, which is exponential with illegal and criminal groups, and religious beliefs that persons who are trans are an abomination," Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes at WOLA, told the Latin Times.

Even if the law enshrines trans rights, deep-seated prejudice is hard to shake.

Right-wing populism across the Americas

While discrimination and violence against trans people is not new to the region, it appears to be on the rise as a wave of right-wing populism dismantles legal protections and scapegoats trans people.

"Rollbacks [in rights] tend to happen when executives gain broad power on populist agendas, creating moral panic around gender, and govern by decree without checks from legislatures," explained HRW's González.

The analyst used the example of Argentina, where President Javier Milei has spearheaded a raft of measures eroding trans rights since taking office in 2023; he has dismantled the Ministry of Women, Gender, and Diversity and fired over 100 trans people working in government positions, among other actions.

The Trump administration has also overseen a rollback of rights which both analysts believe has had a knock-on effect across the Americas. This year, the White House issued executive orders banning transgender and non-binary persons from the armed forces, restricting access to gender-affirming healthcare, and officially recognizing only two genders.

"Trans persons have become scapegoats in the US and the protections that existed are being dismantled," explained Sánchez. "This reversal sends the message to other countries that it's fine to undo such rights."

As well as setting an example for the region, the Trump administration also cut funding which had supported trans people across the Americas. The suspension of USAID halted programs providing health services, advocacy activities, and community protection.

"The landscape of trans rights in the Americas has shifted in the past year largely because the U.S. presidency still influences regional politics and funding patterns for civil society groups," said González.

Solutions to a complex problem

While trans violence in Latin America stems from a complex web of historic influences and current political shifts, experts believe there are still ways to redress these.

"Comprehensive protection ultimately only comes when legal reforms are the first step in a process of creating openings, institutions, budgets, and social norms that socialize gender diversity," said González.

He called for initiatives that train law enforcement and judicial officials to adequately investigate gender violence, as well as strengthening social protection systems for trans people.

While the state plays a crucial role in bringing perpetrators of violence to justice, non-governmental bodies are also vital to shifting attitudes.

"It is necessary for civil society to condemn this type of violence and to encourage respect for trans persons. This along with justice in these cases will help diminish violence," said WOLA's Sánchez.

Local organizers and activists are also instrumental in defending LGTBQ+ communities and calling attention to violence.

One example is Maria Victoria Palacios, a transgender activist in Colombia who worked for a now-closed USAID program. On International Transgender Remembrance Day, she organized a mural to commemorate Dorothy, a trans teacher who was killed in her home department of Chocó, on the Pacific coast.

In addition to her advocacy work, Palacios is part of a group lobbying the government to pass a law explicitly protecting trans people from discrimination. She is just one of hundreds of local activists fighting for trans rights in Latin America.

"We transgender people don't ask to be accepted. All we want is to be respected," she concluded.

Originally published on Latin Times