The New York Post has been slammed for “demonizing innocent and vulnerable people” by repeatedly perpetuating false claims about the involvement of trans people in Charlie Kirk’s murder.

The suspect in custody for the fatal shooting of Kirk is a cisgender white man, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. But that fact hasn’t stopped many on the right from trying to exploit the assassination to further endanger and marginalize the trans community.

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One recent op-ed from the Post declared, “There’s no denying the trans links to suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination.”

The piece was a reaction to a statement from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) that Robinson was dating his trans roommate, even though Cox said the roommate knew nothing of Robinson’s alleged plans to kill Kirk and is fully cooperating with law enforcement.

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Another piece claimed the etchings on one of the killer’s bullet casings “featured a meme that is widely used in both pro-transgender sex and furry subcultures of the internet.”

One September 14th headline states, “Charlie Kirk assassination investigation widens to probe whether pro-trans, online groups knew in advance.”

Another points out that his trans partner “proclaimed support for Biden on social media,” and another says an anonymous relative claimed the partner “hates conservatives and Christians.”

And in perhaps the most egregious example of the blatant peddling of misinformation, the Post headlined a September 13 piece, “Charlie Kirk assassination latest shooting committed by trans people and advocates.”

The pieces were crafted to stoke the flames of hatred against all trans people. The only “proof” the latter article cited for its claim that the Kirk murder was “committed by trans people and advocates” is that Robinson was dating someone who Gov. Cox said is transgender.

As Advocate pointed out, the Post has also largely been relying on unverified leaks (some of which have been contradicted by police), as well as anonymous sources.

“Sharing unsubstantiated claims breaks one of journalism’s core ethical principles: do no harm,” National Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists president Ken Miguel told Advocate in a statement. “Stories like these risk reinforcing harmful stereotypes and unfairly targeting a marginalized group that has already been the subject of politically motivated attacks.”

“Demonizing innocent and vulnerable people with sensationalized and irresponsible coverage is not new in LGBTQ history,” a GLAAD spokesperson also told Advocate. “GLAAD was founded forty years ago because media coverage of the AIDS crisis—including from the NY Post—was atrocious and harmful, and allowed government officials to ignore their responsibility in keeping every American safe.”

Trans Journalists Association executive director Tre’vell Anderson also noted the issue with publications like the Wall Street Journal perpetuating the term “trans ideology,” which they said “were created with the expressed purpose of delegitimizing the humanity of trans people.”

The Journal is facing calls for a retraction and apology after hastily publishing unconfirmed and ultimately false rumors that the shooter’s ammunition was engraved with “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.”

An editor’s note at the top of the piece now says Gov. Cox recently “gave no indication that the ammunition included any transgender references.” Nevertheless, many consider it a haphazard correction, as the headline still reads, “Early Bulletin Said Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved With Transgender, Antifascist Ideology; Some Sources Urge Caution,” with the article’s opening not entirely debunking the false claim that anything about trans people was engraved on the casings but rather urging caution “against reaching conclusions.”

The Human Rights Campaign has launched a petition demanding that the publication issue a full retraction and apology for “reckless and irresponsible” reporting that “led to a wave of threats against the trans community from right-wing influencers” and caused a “wave of terror for a community that is already living in fear.”

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