The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Crime & Justice›Hate Crime›Brandon Teena
Crime & Justice • Hate Crime

Brandon Teena

Brandon Teena was an American transgender man born Teena Renae Brandon in 1972.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Brandon Teena was an American transgender man born Teena Renae Brandon in 1972. He was raped and murdered in Nebraska in 1993; his case drew national attention and became an important reference point in discussions of transgender violence and hate crime law.

Early life

Brandon Teena was born Teena Renae Brandon in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1972. Sources describe him as a transgender man who lived as male before his death.

Assault and murder

In December 1993, Teena was raped in Nebraska and later killed along with Lisa Lambert and Phillip DeVine by John Lotter and Tom Nissen. The case became widely reported as a hate crime.

Teena’s killing helped draw attention to violence against transgender people and was cited in later advocacy for hate-crime protections. It also raised criticism of how authorities handled the case.

Media portrayals

Teena’s life and death were the basis of the documentary The Brandon Teena Story and the feature film Boys Don't Cry. These works brought the case to a broader audience.

Key facts

  • Brandon Teena was a transgender man whose rape and murder in 1993 became a landmark hate-crime case.
  • He was killed in Humboldt, Nebraska, along with Lisa Lambert and Phillip DeVine.
  • His case influenced public debate over hate-crime legislation and transgender rights.
  • His life was portrayed in the documentary The Brandon Teena Story and the film Boys Don't Cry.
🍁
Canadian context

Brandon Teena’s case is often discussed in Canadian reporting and scholarship on transgender rights, hate crime, and violence against LGBTQ2S+ people.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Brandon Teena?
Brandon Teena was an American transgender man whose rape and murder in 1993 became a landmark hate-crime case.
What was Brandon Teena’s birth name?
His birth name was Teena Renae Brandon.
When did Brandon Teena die?
He died on December 31, 1993.
Where was Brandon Teena killed?
He was killed in Humboldt, Nebraska, in the United States.
Why is Brandon Teena significant?
His case became a widely discussed example of anti-transgender violence and influenced public debate about hate-crime laws and transgender rights.
Was Brandon Teena the subject of a film?
Yes. His life and death were portrayed in The Brandon Teena Story and Boys Don't Cry.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Teena
    Supports: Basic biographical details, death date, and overview of the case
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brandon-Teena
    Supports: Birth and death information; identification as a transgender man and crime victim
  3. Lambda Legal — https://lambdalegal.org/case/brandon-v-richardson-county/
    Supports: Details about the rape investigation, sheriff conduct, and legal significance
  4. OutHistory — https://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/queer-youth-campus-media/queer-youth-at-risk/hate-crimes-against-queer-yout
    Supports: Context on Brandon Teena as a prominent hate-crime victim
  5. The Advocate — https://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2014/01/02/20-years-after-brandon-teenas-death-trans-rights-still-have-long-way
    Supports: Summary of the murders and the case's influence on hate-crime activism
  6. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/21/politics/boys-dont-cry-brandon-teena-transgender-protections
    Supports: Public impact of the case and connection to Boys Don't Cry