Story perspectives

Report Reveals Misclassification of Transgender Women's Deaths

3/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

Jill Collen Jefferson, founder of JULIAN, released a report questioning how the South classifies deaths of transgender women and suggesting bias-motivated killings may be misclassified suicides.
She reviewed over 150 cases across seven states and found that about one-third involved transgender women.
The report cites premature determinations and investigative negligence as causes of misclassification.
It calls for reforms, including amending the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act and improving coroner qualifications.

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Story summary

Jill Collen Jefferson, founder of JULIAN, released a report questioning how the South classifies deaths of transgender women and suggesting bias-motivated killings may be misclassified suicides.
She reviewed over 150 cases across seven states and found that about one-third involved transgender women.
The report cites premature determinations and investigative negligence as causes of misclassification.
It calls for reforms, including amending the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act and improving coroner qualifications.