The Far Right Is Already Using the Philadelphia Shooting to Smear Trans People
The Far Right Is Already Using the Philadelphia Shooting to Smear Trans People
There’s no evidence the suspect was trans, and he posted repeatedly about his pro-gun stance and his support for former president Donald Trump.
A 40-year-old man named Kimbrady Carriker was charged with five counts of murder after shooting victims at random during Independence Day celebrations in Philadelphia.
Despite there being no evidence to suggest that the suspect is transgender, far-right figures and Republican lawmakers falsely claimed him to be and used this to attack the LGBTQ+ community.
The suspect's now-deleted Facebook page displayed numerous posts about his pro-gun stance and support for former President Donald Trump. Images on the account of Carriker with long braided hair and wearing women's clothing were used by far-right members to label him as a "trans shooter".
This event follows a pattern of exploiting tragedies to spread transphobia and undermine LGBTQ+ protections by the far right.