In November, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation released their 2023 report on violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people. The report claimed that 33 individuals in this community were killed in the United States between November 2022 and November 2023, which HRC President Kelley Robinson labeled as an “epidemic of violence.”
Kelley blamed society’s attitudes toward gender identity for these deaths, stating that they are “demeaning and devaluing” to those who challenge the traditional gender binary.
But the recent death of Meghan Riley Lewis, posted on the HRC’s social media accounts and website, raises questions about how these deaths are counted and defined. According to the HRC, Lewis was “killed in Bel Air, MD on Dec. 27, 2023,” and marked as the 31st violent killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person in 2023.
The HRC described Lewis as a “trans woman and mother of two” who dedicated her life to helping the queer community. This portrayal of Lewis painted a heartbreaking image of an innocent victim. The HRC also called for action against anti-transgender legislation at all levels of government, claiming that this death was due to the “conspiracy” of racism, transphobia, sexism, biphobia, and homophobia.
However, according to WBAL-TV in Baltimore, police reports tell a different story. The altercation between Lewis and a food delivery driver, Brian Michael Delen, occurred on Dec. 28, not Dec. 27 as the HRC claimed. According to court documents, Delen asked Lewis a question and addressed her as “sir,” which caused an argument to erupt. Delen then drove away, and Lewis followed on foot.
As the situation escalated, Delen allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Lewis, killing her. According to the Baltimore Sun, Delen had a permit for the weapon, and he also had visible injuries on his body. This account of events contradicts the HRC’s narrative and raises questions about the role of the victim in this tragic incident.
While the HRC highlighted this death as another example of the “epidemic of violence” against the transgender community, the facts of the case suggest that this was not a targeted act based on Lewis’s gender identity. It was a tragic altercation that resulted in a loss of life, but it may not fit the narrative pushed by the HRC.
In light of this new information, the HRC has locked down its comment section on the posts regarding Lewis’s death. It appears that they do not want anyone questioning the details of this incident and how it is being used to further their agenda. This raises concerns about the HRC’s agenda and their tactics of using tragic events to push a specific narrative.
The HRC’s reaction to the truth coming to light about this particular death brings into question the validity and accuracy of their annual reports on violence against the transgender community. It also highlights the danger of using individual cases to make broad statements and push a specific agenda, especially when those cases may not fit the narrative being pushed.
Meghan Riley Lewis, a trans woman and a mother of two, devoted her life to feeding and housing queer people.
She was killed in Bel Air, MD., on Dec. 27, 2023, marking at least the 31st violent killing of a trans or gender non-conforming person last year. https://t.co/eC5ZIxSFBD
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) January 6, 2024
In order to truly address and prevent violence against any community, it is crucial to have accurate and unbiased data. This incident shows the importance of fact-checking and critically examining information, even when it comes from reputable sources like the HRC. It is also a reminder that individuals cannot be reduced to a single aspect of their identity, and every tragedy must be evaluated on its own merits, rather than used to further a political agenda. As the saying goes, “the truth will set you free,” and in this case, it is crucial to have all the facts before making sweeping statements.