Riki Wilchins - 1st National Survey of TransViolence

1st National Survey of TransViolence

With help from researcher Emilia Lombardi, GenderPAC compiled and published the "1st National Survey of TransViolence," based on surveys provided by more than 500. In 2006, GenderPAC researched and published "50 Under 30: Masculinity & the War on America's Youth," the first human rights report to document an under-reported tide of violence that had claimed the lives of more than 50 young people aged 30 and under attacked because of their gender identity or gender expression from 1994-2004. With a fresh round of attacks, the report was reissued just two years later as "70 Under 30." More than 80 groups endorsed the reports' recommendations, including the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights, National Organization for Women (NOW), National Council La Raza (NCLR), Interfaith Alliance, and the Human Rights Campaign. The report was used by the House Sub-Committee which marked up the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes bill (the final bill included gender identity as a protected category and was eventually passed and signed into law).

Wilchins' writing has appeared in The Meaning of Difference, Feminist Frontiers, Language Awareness, Pomosexuals, Women on Women III, Out at Work, as well as periodicals The Village Voice, Social Text, The Advocate, and Girlfriends.

Wilchins received her bachelors degree from Cleveland State University in 1982 and her masters in Clinical Psychology from the New School for Social Research in 1983. She then founded Data Tree Inc., a computer consulting company specializing in banking and brokerage on Wall Street. Wilchins is an out transsexual lesbian feminist.