Introduction: Naming Violence, Resisting Erasure – Transphobia and the Politics of Hate

This chapter introduces the urgent and evolving landscape of transphobic hate crime and transphobia in a context of rising global anti-trans sentiment. It situates transphobia as a systemic and structural form of violence, reinforced through law, media, policy, and everyday interactions. Drawing on interdisciplinary research and international case studies, the chapter outlines the social, legal, and political conditions shaping anti-trans hostility. It frames the collection as a critical intervention, offering analytical tools to understand and resist transphobic violence. By centring trans experiences, it calls for intersectional, justice-driven approaches to address the harms inflicted on transgender and gender-diverse communities worldwide.