Content Warning: Mention of Transgender discrimination, violence, murder

The brutal murder of 24-year-old transgender man Sam Nordquist is not just a tragedy—it is a glaring indictment of the violence and systemic neglect that continue to endanger trans and nonbinary people everywhere. The details of Sam’s death are almost too horrific to comprehend. Tortured and abused for weeks before his body was discarded in a field, Sam’s suffering exposes the cruel reality that too many trans individuals face: a world where their humanity is too often denied and their lives too easily taken.

The five individuals charged with Sam’s murder will face legal consequences, but justice cannot be reduced to convictions alone. True justice demands action—systemic, religious, and political shifts that ensure trans, non-binary, and intersex people can live with dignity and safety. We must not allow this story to be yet another forgotten headline in a grow list of headlines.

Trump’s Role in Heightening Anti-Trans Violence

Under Donald Trump’s presidency, anti-trans sentiment has been emboldened through policies that strip away protections, fuel hatred, and deny trans people basic rights. His administration reinstated bans on transgender people in the military, weakened protections in healthcare and education, and actively pushed a far-right Christian nationalist agenda that seeks to erase trans existence altogether. Trump’s recent executive actions—such as cutting federal oversight on discrimination cases and empowering states to roll back 2SLGBTQIA+ protections—have directly increased the vulnerability of trans individuals to violence and systemic oppression.

Beyond policy, the right’s rhetoric has given permission for people to act on their ignorance and hatred. The administration has repeatedly attacked trans youth, framed gender-affirming care as “child abuse,” and allowed white Christian nationalism to dictate public policy. When political leaders create an environment where trans people are demonized, it is no surprise that violence follows. Sam’s torture and murder did not happen in a vacuum, but is part of a broader escalation of dehumanization that Trump has actively fueled.

Christian Responsibility to Act

For those who are followers of Jesus, there is no silence, neutrality, or even empty sympathy in the face of such injustice. Jesus’s life and teachings demand an unequivocal commitment to the dignity and safety of the marginalized with whom he directly identified. Jesus stood with the oppressed, challenged corrupt power, and called his followers to radical love. To ignore the suffering and victimization of trans and nonbinary people is to betray that calling.

• Churches/Christians must move beyond mere statements of concern and take real action. This means:
• Denouncing anti-trans policies and rhetoric from pulpits, church leadership, and Christian organizations.
• Providing sanctuary and support for trans people facing persecution, including financial aid, legal assistance, and affirming spaces.
• Calling out the twisting of Christianity to justify discrimination and violence. We cannot allow the faith of Jesus to be weaponized against the most vulnerable.
• Advocating for policy change at every level– including in church and denominational contexts- ensuring that policies that protect rather than endanger trans lives.

While there is a need to mourn and while outrage is a legitimate response, neither are enough. If we are truly committed to protecting trans lives, there must be clear and immediate action. Whether it is through advocacy, donations, protest, hospitality, education, or any of the many ways we can respond, action is needed. It is our responsibility to be equipped

We grieve for Sam. We hold his loved ones in our hearts. But grief must be the catalyst for action. Justice for Sam is justice for every trans person who has been harmed, erased, and cast aside. It is a commitment to creating a world where trans lives are not just protected, but valued and celebrated.

Sam Nordquist should have lived a long and rich life with those he loved. We failed him. Let’s not fail anyone else.

Take Action Today

To support the Nordquist family directly, please visit their verified GoFundMe campaign here. You can also make donations to organizations that are working for trans equality and safety, including here at The Rainbow Well.