The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sparked widespread condemnation on social media after criticizing Florida's execution of Duane Owen, a convicted rapist and murderer. The ACLU argued that Florida's denial of gender-affirming care to Owen constituted "cruel and unusual punishment." Owen was executed for the 1984 rape and murder of a 14-year-old babysitter and a 38-year-old woman. He also allegedly attacked two other women who survived.
Critics, including actor James Woods and commentator Allie Beth Stuckey, vehemently disagreed with the ACLU's stance, emphasizing the severity of Owen's crimes and the prolonged suffering of the victims' families. Some argued that swift justice would have prevented decades of pain. Stuckey highlighted the brutality of Owen's crimes, stating, "This man stabbed 14-year-old Karen Slattery 18 times, killing her, then raped her corpse. He committed murder again years later. The only injustice in Owen’s case is that it took the state 40 years to execute him."
A Twitter "Community Notes" fact-check cited a CBS News report that disputed Owen's claims of gender dysphoria. State psychiatrists assessed Owen and concluded that he had a sound memory, did not present as female, and that gender dysphoria does not inherently increase aggression or cause delusional thinking. They determined Owen's behavior stemmed from sexual sadism.
The ACLU's tweets following the execution portrayed Owen as a victim of the justice system, not only for being executed but also for being denied gender-affirming care. They shared a graphic stating, "FLORIDA has executed Duane Owen," and added, "The state of Florida never provided medically necessary gender-affirming care to Duane Owen — causing her enormous suffering and violating her right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment for the more than 30 years she was in state custody." They further argued that Owen wished to "become 'who she was meant to be' before her death" and called for an end to the death penalty.
