I have strong criticisms of trans-identifying men, and I often find myself at odds with their presence in certain spaces. Yet, I also find the extreme reactions from some gender critical feminists of which I consider myself one to be overly performative and, at times, misdirected.
What stands out to me in the recent case of this shooter is not only his gender but also his race. It’s noteworthy how often discussions about male violence, especially in mass shootings, overlook the recurring factor of whiteness. Mainstream feminist discourse often fails to account for this. There’s a recurring pattern where the struggles of Black women are co-opted by white feminists to advance a broader agenda that doesn’t always benefit Black women themselves. Similarly, I’ve observed how white trans-identifying individuals often benefit disproportionately from the visibility and struggles of Black trans people, while the latter remain marginalized.
That said, I don’t believe this individual’s trans identity is inherently connected to the act of violence he committed. Historically, the majority of mass and school shooters in the U.S. have been cisgender, straight, white men. Framing this tragedy as a specifically “trans issue” feels disingenuous and ultimately distracts from more meaningful patterns. If we’re going to talk about gendered violence, focusing on maleness and whiteness as consistent factors is far more accurate than targeting the trans community as a whole.