Charlie Kirk’s assassination stunned the political world, causing ripples that extended beyond conservative circles. The graphic footage of his killing spread rapidly online, sparking grief, fury, and conspiracy theories in equal measure. But while the headlines have focused on the political fallout, a quieter and more dangerous trend has emerged in its wake. Across the country, people are losing their jobs for speaking critically about Kirk, his legacy, or even for making sarcastic remarks about his death.
Commentators, educators, and public relations professionals have all been swept into a storm of firings and suspensions. Some were punished for blunt statements, others for social media posts that employers deemed insensitive. In many cases, the pressure comes not only from individual complaints but also from an organized campaign. An anonymously run website called Charlie’s Murderers has been publishing names, workplaces, and personal details of people accused of speaking against Kirk. The site openly encourages followers to contact employers and demand that people be fired.
Influential voices on social media have amplified this effort. Far-right figures such as Chaya Raichik, who runs the “Libs of TikTok” account, Laura Loomer, and Enrique Tarrio have all used their platforms to direct attention to individuals, framing them as enemies who deserve punishment. Their large followings ensure that once a person is targeted, harassment and job loss often follow quickly.
For conservatives who claim to value free expression, this sudden embrace of job-targeting tactics might appear hypocritical. Yet for transgender people, there is nothing surprising about this development. We have long lived with the knowledge that our words, our identities, and our livelihoods can be used against us. Kirk’s death has simply pushed this reality further into the spotlight.
Employment Was Never a Level Playing Field
Transgender people already face immense challenges in the workforce. Hiring discrimination is common. Trans employees are often underpaid, denied promotions, or subjected to hostile environments. Many hide their identities to avoid retaliation, while others accept positions below their qualifications simply to maintain a paycheck.
Now add the reality that a political movement is scouring online spaces for statements to weaponize against workers. It no longer matters if your professional performance is stellar or if you carefully separate politics from your workplace. A tweet, a comment, or a reposted article can be enough to ignite an online mob and put your livelihood in jeopardy.
For those already navigating systemic bias, this added layer of vulnerability is crushing.
Anonymity Is Not a Shield
It is tempting to believe that anonymity can keep us safe. Many use avatars, pseudonyms, or secondary accounts to create distance between their public and private lives. But those seeking to silence dissent have turned online sleuthing into a coordinated campaign. The very existence of Charlie’s Murderers proves it. Names and details are collected, employers are listed, and harassment is organized with precision.
I know this reality firsthand. Despite taking precautions to protect my identity, my home address was leaked. Strangers dug up personal photos from platforms I had not touched in years. Death threats arrive weekly, not because I hold public office or seek fame, but simply because I run a platform for transgender people to share their stories.
Some of my friends worry more for my safety than I do. They see the steady stream of threats and harassment and wonder how long before it escalates further. I tell them I do not worry, but their concern is real, and I understand it. What I also know is that the harassment has never stopped me from writing. The entire point of these campaigns is to intimidate us into silence. To disappear would be to hand them victory.
The Real Goal Is Silence
The consequences we are now witnessing are not about accountability or respect. They are about silencing dissent.
Kirk built a career on inflammatory rhetoric. He denounced immigration, promoted conspiracy theories, undermined civil rights, and attacked LGBTQ communities. His brand was provocation. Yet pointing this out after his death has suddenly been treated as unacceptable, even career-ending.
For trans people, the implications are clear. If public figures with established careers can be stripped of employment for their opinions, those of us with less visibility are even more vulnerable. The goal is not to create civility or balance but to erase us from public discourse.
The message is unmistakable: if we cannot be forced back into the closet, we can at least be pushed out of the workplace.
Protecting Yourself Without Giving Up Your Voice
The instinct to stay silent in the face of these threats is understandable. But disappearing is exactly what these campaigns are designed to achieve. Silence is surrender, and it only makes the targeting more effective.
That does not mean being reckless. It means being strategic. I have done what I can to keep my professional and personal identities separate, though I know from experience that separation is never perfect. The best defense is knowledge and preparation. Understand what is public and what is private. Be mindful of how much identifying information connects your activism to your employment. Know your workplace protections and document harassment.
Employers may cave quickly under online pressure, but retaliation tied to identity or protected speech can in many cases violate anti-discrimination laws. Preparation and knowledge can be powerful tools against attempts to erase us from professional life.
The Weight of Constant Threats
The human toll of these campaigns is enormous. Each firing, each suspension, and each death threat sends a chilling message. Careers collapse overnight. Teachers are suspended for remarks on personal accounts. Communications staff lose their positions over a post that their employer deems inappropriate. Commentators are removed from platforms for expressing critical opinions.
I live with the reality of harassment every week. I have learned to keep working through it, to keep building, to keep writing. But I have also seen people I care about shrink under the pressure. I have seen friends delete accounts, end projects, and silence their voices, not because they wanted to stop, but because the weight became unbearable.
That exhaustion is the point. The goal is not just to punish individuals but to create a chilling effect, to convince the rest of us that speaking up is not worth the risk.
The Power of Solidarity
The only real antidote to these campaigns is solidarity. When individuals stand alone, they are easy to target. When communities stand together, the tactics lose some of their power.
Solidarity is coworkers refusing to join in the outrage and instead standing with their colleagues. It is employers who refuse to be manipulated by anonymous online mobs. It is friends who help document harassment and organizations that provide legal and emotional support.
For trans people, solidarity also means knowing we are not alone. The pressure to disappear can feel overwhelming, but when we stand together, it is harder to push us into silence.
The Bottom Line
Charlie Kirk’s death has been turned into a rallying point for those who want to punish dissent. Jobs have become the new battleground in America’s culture wars. Yet the deeper truth is that this is not about honoring the dead or protecting civility. It is about consolidating power by silencing opposition.
For transgender people, this reality is not theoretical. We have always been at risk of losing work simply for being who we are. Now the risks are amplified, and the tactics are more aggressive. But we cannot afford to vanish.
Yes, protect yourself. Yes, safeguard your career. But do not surrender your voice. Because the goal of these campaigns is not just to punish individuals; it is to erase entire communities.
The most powerful act of defiance is to remain. To keep working. To keep living. To keep speaking, even when they tell us we should be silent.
That is how we survive. That is how we win.
