Trans ideology is turning violent criminals into victims

The media love to report on ‘first trans person to’ stories. Usually, it’s the first transwoman to swipe a prize in a female-only competition, or the first transman to give birth (of which there have been a surprising number). Last week’s first wasn’t quite so uplifting. Scott McLaughlin, a man who has since adopted the name Amber, was convicted of stalking, raping and murdering his ex-girlfriend Beverly Guenther on 20 November 2003. He was sentenced to death for first-degree murder in 2006. Last week, he was executed by lethal injection in Missouri. Headlines around the world described ‘Amber McLaughlin’ as the ‘first transgender inmate’ in the US to be executed.

The death penalty is arguably a hangover from more barbarous times. Today, it is rarely used in the US and only remains legal in 27 states. Around 1,600 men and just 17 women have been executed since 1976. So it was not surprising that McLaughlin’s death sentence was met with appeals for clemency. US celebrities, retired Missouri judges and protesters all added their voices to a legal request for clemency made by McLaughlin’s lawyer. ‘Please pray that God touches [Missouri] governor Parson’s heart with compassion’, wrote singer Sheryl Crow. Governor Mike Parson nevertheless denied the request.

Of course, it is right to question the ethics of capital punishment. But you cannot help but suspect that if McLaughlin had not started to identify as a transwoman three years ago, his case would have elicited far less sympathy and attention. Indeed, in his appeal for clemency, federal public defender Larry Komp cited ‘gender dysphoria’ as one of reasons McLaughlin ought to be spared. ‘We think Amber has demonstrated incredible courage because, I can tell you, there’s a lot of hate when it comes to that issue’, he said last week.

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