What happened at the Catholic church in Minneapolis is heartbreaking beyond words. Two young lives lost and many more injured — families shattered forever. My heart is with the victims and their loved ones.
But I need to say this clearly: One individual’s horrific actions do not define an entire community. Just as we don’t blame all Catholics, all men, or all people of a certain race when one person commits violence, we cannot and should not blame all transgender people when someone who happened to be trans commits a crime.
Transgender people are not bad people. We are your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members. We are teachers, artists, nurses, firefighters and more. To take the pain of this tragedy and twist it into an attack on all trans people is not only wrong — it adds even more hurt where there is already too much.
Let’s remember the victims, work toward preventing future violence, and hold accountable the person who committed this terrible act without scapegoating an entire community that already faces more than enough hate.
Cami Richardson
Kamas