2015 was the deadliest year on record for trans women of color. It seems 2016 is following in the same path, already looking like it will prove to be even deadlier. The most recent victim of this wave of transphobic violence was Rae'Lynn Thomas, who was shot and beaten just last week.

Despite this, there has been no national outcry about her death or any other victims of transphobic violence. It seems the only time trans people are allowed to exist in the national discourse is when we're talking about bathrooms.

The conversation around addressing transphobic violence, especially as it pertains to trans women of color, is key. Here are just a couple of facts that show why.

- The average life expectancy for a trans woman of color in the Western Hemisphere is 35.

- Trans people are seven times more likely to experience police violence.

- Trans people of color are six times more likely to experience police violence compared to white cisgender people.

- The vast majority of hate crimes in the U.S. are committed against black and brown trans women.

- More than 50 percent of trans people have been sexually assaulted. This is double the average rate of sexual assault for women and triple the average rate for men.

- Seventy-eight percent of trans youth have been harassed at school and 35 percent have been physically assaulted.

- Trans women are often placed in men's prisons which dramatically increases their chance of being sexually assaulted. One study found that 59 percent of trans women housed in men's prisons had been sexually assaulted.

- Forty-one percent of trans people attempt suicide. This is compared to the mere 1.6 percent of the general population that attempts suicide.

- More than 50 percent of trans youth attempt suicide before their 20th birthday.

These are just some facts about anti-trans violence. The reality of the situation is that this is a major national crisis that is being completely ignored. And so long as it continues being ignored, this epidemic of transphobic violence will go on.