Days After Nashville Shooting, Biden Condemns ‘Violence Against Transgender Women’

President Joe Biden has spoken out against the “epidemic of violence against transgender women” in the US, especially women and girls of color, following the killing of six people by a woman who identified as transgender at a Christian school in Nashville. The president’s condemnation comes ahead of the Transgender Day of Visibility on Friday, celebrating the role of transgender Americans who, as Biden put it, “shape our Nation’s soul.” In his statement, he also spoke out against state laws targeting transgender youth, which he said were causing harm and distress to innocent children and their families.

The shooting at Covenant School was a tragic event that shocked the country. Police confirmed that the killer, Audrey Hale, was a biological woman who went by Aiden and had attended the school in the past. While the motive for the attack is still unknown, the school was clearly targeted. Hale left behind a manifesto, which police are now studying as part of the investigation.

Biden’s statement comes just days after he made light-hearted comments about his love for ice cream before addressing the Nashville killings. His words have been criticized in some quarters for being insensitive, but his latest statement on transgender violence shows his commitment to addressing the serious issues facing the country.