On Monday, a horrific mass shooting occurred at a private Christian school in Nashville, claiming the lives of three students and three adults. Authorities alleged the shooter was transgender which led right-wing extremists to immediately weaponize the tragedy to spread anti-trans rhetoric.
Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene used the opportunity to attack transgender healthcare.
She wrote:
“How much hormones like testosterone and medications for mental illness was the transgender Nashville school shooter taking?”
“Everyone can stop blaming guns now."
You can see Greene's tweet below.
\u201cHow much hormones like testosterone and medications for mental illness was the transgender Nashville school shooter taking? \n\nEveryone can stop blaming guns now.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679949924
\u201cNEWS: \u201cThe AR-15 was shot by a white man in a club."\n\nNEWS: "The AR-15 was shot by a white man in a school." \n\nNEWS: "The AR-15 was shot by a trans person in a school."\n\nNEWS: "The AR-15 was shot by a white man in a mall.\u201d\n\nGOP: \u201cThe common denominator is buildings and trans!\u201d\u201d— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers) 1680042751
Greene followed up this tweet with even more blatant transphobia from her personal account, writing:
"The female Nashville shooter identifies as a man. So shouldn't we just blame white men again?"
You can see Greene's tweet below.
\u201cThe female Nashville shooter identifies as a man.\n\nSo shouldn\u2019t we just blame white men again?\u201d— Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679950425
Greene's comments amount to completely absurd and unfounded accusations as there is no evidence administering testosterone or receiving mental health treatment makes someone more prone to violence.
Moreover, Greene's tweet conveniently ignores the fact that the United Statess has one of the highest rates of gun violence in the world, with nearly 49,000 gun-related deaths reported in 2021 alone.
\u201c@TuckerCarlson Some questions to ask yourselves. \nHow many school shooters have been Trans? \nNow, how many shootings were using the AR-15?\u201d— Tucker Carlson (@Tucker Carlson) 1680048920
The Violence Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to studying gun violence, found that 98 percent of public mass shootings since 1966 have been committed by men. It also found that 35 of the deadliest shootings in history have taken place in the last decade.
These statistics show that the issue of gun violence in the U.S. is a complex problem that cannot be reduced to oversimplified, transphobic talking points.
Many condemned Greene's remarks.
\u201c@RepMTG You are the worst of the worst. I can\u2019t believe you claim to know Jesus and follow his teachings. Shame on you.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679949924
\u201c@RepMTG This is DESPICABLE\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679949924
\u201c@RepMTG Have to give it to you. Right when I think you can\u2019t be any worse, you prove me wrong.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679949924
\u201c@RepMTG 1 trans shooter creates an opportunity for hate-filled people, like @RepMTG, to blame an entire community. But when a straight white man does it, he & \u201cmental health\u201d get blamed. Still, in both instances, to deranged people like MTG, it\u2019s never the guns or the access to them\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679949924
\u201c@mtgreenee So, you're a psychopath, got it.\u201d— Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679950425
\u201c@mtgreenee You\u2019re despicable. Trashy. Addicted to the adoration of hateful people. I would never trust a person who admires you.\u201d— Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679950425
\u201c@RepMTG After 3 young children are shot dead - this is the thought that came to mind?!\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1679949924
Greene joined the chorus of conservatives—including Donald Trump Jr. and Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance—who railed about gender-affirming care in the aftermath of the shooting.
Despite their remarks, it's worth noting that the shooter's gender identity is not relevant to the tragedy at hand. The focus should be on the lives lost and the families and communities affected by this senseless act of violence.
Twitter later restricted Greene's account in part because of remarks she made about the Nashville shooting.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram