Severe attack towards a trans woman not unique

A group of teenage boys attacked a Trans woman outside the World Class fitness center in Laugar this fall and suffered considerable physical injury. Bjarndís Helga Tómasdóttir, chairman of the 78 association, says a serious attack like this is not unique.

« We have seen a significant increase in the last two to three years of violence and harassment towards trans people and queer people in general, » said Bjarndís Helga in a conversation with mbl.is.

In general, harassment and violence have increased against trans people in Iceland, according to Bjarndís. She also says that unfortunately, it is not unique that the attacks are at as high severity as they actually witnessed in the said attack last fall.

« It is not unique that such violence is being used and these attacks have increased now between years. »

The feeling of insecurity is growing

Alpha Magnúsdóttir, president of the Trans Iceland Association, also says that violence against trans people is undoubtedly increasing.

« This feeling of insecurity is clearly growing among trans people, » says Reypha in a conversation with mbl.is.

According to Reyn, this is part of an international development that is seen around the world. Organized groups are reportedly the benefit of digging human rights that have been in force over the past few decades and therefore apply hate speech against queer people.

« Social media has played a big part in this, with hate speech flowing all over and is overwhelming everywhere that Trans person comes to mind. The emergence of media such as tiktok that is terribly controlled for each one and the user has led to an easy way to get into a rabbit hole. »