i don’t think the fact he’s trans is irrelevant. I’d also stress that I do not think all trans people have MH issues. However, in some cases the trans identity, particularly in young people, is a signifier of mental and emotional struggles. I see it like a shield for the ego. It’s wrongly seen as the answer - but it isn’t. When that becomes apparent, MH can deteriorate.
This man wrote things that were obviously not based on reality, alongside the hate and posturing. He wrote he had cancer from vaping because he had some symptoms, but this was, no doubt, crap and a sign of paranoia/anxiety/depression.
What I find creepiest of all was the end of his alleged letter where he goes on about love being the most important thing. What? ‘Love’ like murdering innocent children in cold blood? He had zero care or understanding of other people. Even the friends he referred to in his letter were probably seen as satellites of the great Him himself, only relevant for what they could provide to him, not people in their own right.
This egocentric thought is far too common in ‘trans’ young people. It’s not always malicious, but it’s there. This is why the first and last ports of call for young people with trans identities should be psychological assessment.
When I looked at Sky and the BBC last night, both were studiously avoiding using pronouns. He was “the person”, “the attacker”. I see that Sky have used “he” this morning, but couldn’t find a “he” in the BBC reports earlier.
This is not a woman’s crime. It’s a man’s crime. Trying to dance around that does nothing to help solve male violence.