In the aftermath of the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, a familiar and dangerous pattern reemerged—false claims targeting the transgender community.
The Human Rights Campaign is demanding a full retraction from The Wall Street Journal after it falsely linked the transgender community to the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
The Journal cited unverified claims that bullet casings bore “transgender ideology”—claims that officials have now fully debunked.
HRC says the report was “reckless,” fueling threats and misinformation against trans people.
The real engravings? Internet memes—none related to LGBTQ+ identity.
Just hours after the shooting, far-right influencers like Steven Crowder and even mainstream outlets such as The Wall Street Journal amplified unfounded rumors that “transgender symbols” were engraved on bullet casings at the scene. The lie spread fast—conservative commentators, including Rep. Nancy Mace, blamed the attack on trans people, despite having no evidence.
But by this morning, the truth came out. Officials announced the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson and confirmed the actual engravings: bizarre internet memes, not LGBTQ or transgender-related at all. Among them? “notices bulges owo what’s this”—a well-known furry meme—and “If you read this you are gay lmao,” a trolling phrase seen in meme forums. Others included a Helldivers 2 reference and the anti-fascist anthem "Bella Ciao."
Still, the damage was done. Right-wing accounts continue pushing the false narrative, putting queer and trans lives at further risk.
Trans advocates are demanding accountability. ACLU’s Gillian Branstetter and Harvard Law’s Alejandra Caraballo are calling on The Wall Street Journal to issue a full retraction and public apology.
This isn’t new. Trans people have been falsely blamed after Uvalde, after Trump’s attempted assassination, and more. Each time, the lie spreads faster than the truth. The Human Rights Campaign is demanding a full retraction from The Wall Street Journal after it falsely linked the transgender community to the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
The Journal cited unverified claims that bullet casings bore “transgender ideology”—claims that officials have now fully debunked.
HRC says the report was “reckless,” fueling threats and misinformation against trans people.
The real engravings? Internet memes—none related to LGBTQ+ identity.
We deserve better. And we demand the truth.