UMVA has learned that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has taken a drastic step by expanding his "Transfemicide State of Emergency," a move that prioritizes a remarkably small number of murder cases linked to transgender identity politics. This decision comes at a time when Chicago is grappling with a surge in violent crime that has claimed nearly 200 lives this year.
The stark reality is that the vast majority of homicide victims in Chicago are men, and the handful of cases tied to transgender identity make up a tiny fraction of the total. The mayor's focus on these cases has raised eyebrows, especially when compared to the overall homicide statistics in the city.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the term "transfemicide" is defined by the city and far-left activists as the "targeted killing of a transgender woman motivated by transphobic and misogynistic hatred." This definition is central to the mayor's emergency declaration and the subsequent actions taken by his administration.
On Sunday, Mayor Johnson took to social media to boast about his prioritization of transgender crime victims, highlighting his administration's efforts to support LGBTQ+ Chicagoans. He emphasized the importance of creating a safer, more connected city that welcomes and includes transgender individuals.
Despite the mayor's assertions, the numbers tell a different story. During a violent weekend in which 39 people were shot and six were killed, including a mass shooting that wounded a dozen people, the city's overall crime statistics overshadowed the transgender-related cases. The "State of Emergency" was first declared in 2024, when Johnson signed Executive Order 2024-2, creating a "Transfemicide Working Group."
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the mayor's administration has expanded on the original emergency declaration, rolling out a plan that includes stronger public metrics and accountability, greater investment in organizations led by transgender people, and expanded access to housing and healthcare services. The plan also involves new city leadership positions, such as the appointment of Antonio King as Chicago's first Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs.
Chicago has recorded roughly 200 homicides in 2026 through mid-June, with the overwhelming majority of victims being young black men, and many killings stemming from gang disputes. In contrast, data shows that just 14 transgender and gender-nonconforming people were killed in Chicago between 2016 and 2024. So far in 2026, reports indicate just one trans woman has been killed in the city, representing well under one percent of Chicago's total homicides this year.
The question on many minds is whether the mayor's focus on transgender-related crimes is misplaced, given the larger context of violent crime in Chicago. As the city struggles to address its crime problem, the effectiveness of Johnson's approach remains to be seen.
