In a world flooded with headlines screaming "epidemic of violence" and "trans genocide," what if the data told a different story?
In Manufactured Crisis, researcher Chad Felix Greene delivers a groundbreaking analysis of every publicly reported death of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals in the United States from 2015 to 2025. Drawing from an exhaustive Transgender Homicide Database built on primary sources—including Human Rights Campaign reports, court documents, local news, and law enforcement records—Greene uncovers the facts behind the fear.
What emerges is not a wave of transphobic hate crimes, but a complex landscape of domestic violence, sex work risks, random acts, and tragic circumstances that affect all Americans. With only a handful of confirmed anti-trans hate crimes in a decade, Greene challenges the narrative pushed by activists, media, and politicians. He restores context to stripped-away stories, examines the role of search algorithms and AI in enforcing biases, and reveals uncomfortable truths: trans individuals as perpetrators, radicalization trends like "TRANTIFA," and how good intentions fuel misrepresentation.
This isn't theory—it's data-driven reality. Greene puts 350 deaths into honest perspective, comparing them to broader violence statistics and exploring silenced issues like police encounters and the justice system's record. Through case studies, including the Nex Benedict story, he demands a shift: from exploitation to empathy, from fear-mongering to solutions that truly protect vulnerable lives.
Perfect for readers interested in LGBTQ+ issues, social justice, data journalism, or debunking myths, Manufactured Crisis is a call for honesty in advocacy. If you've questioned the headlines or sought the full picture, this book will change how you see the debate.
"Years of research reveal the real people behind the lists—and why the 'epidemic' is a manufactured one." —Chad Felix Greene