Unmasking Discrimination: Countering Disinformation and Nurturing Understanding in the Fight for Trans Rights, Part 2
This essay is the second in a two-part series on the troubling increase in anti-trans laws being introduced and passed across the country. Read Part 1 here.
Civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer spoke a profound truth in her speech to the National Women’s Political Caucus in Washington in 1971 — “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” Freedom and justice must be universal, because we are all impacted by each others’ lived experiences and while anyone is still under the subjugation of those who profit from oppression and discrimination, the concept of freedom can’t even exist.
As we examine the ongoing fight for transgender rights in the United States, it becomes increasingly evident that this struggle is interconnected with the broader quest for universal freedom. Holding onto divisive notions of “us” versus “them” hinders societal growth, economic development, and progress in all spheres. By denying transgender individuals economic and creative opportunities, as well as their fundamental rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we continue to impede our collective advancement.
Part 1 of this essay series examined the legislative impact of marginalizing and criminalizing transgender children and adults in states like Florida, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Tennessee. In Part 2, we’ll seek to understand the situation better by looking at the value of truth-telling, debunking the misinformation behind anti-trans legislation, and emphasizing the significance of utilizing evidence-based research and expert opinions to counteract false, fear-based narratives spread by politicians and their powerful funders.
Only by educating ourselves about how we got to where we are can we inspire a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the trans community, avoid reinforcing cisnormativity,and foster empathy, compassion, and understanding toward all people, regardless of their gender.
Why Telling the Truth is Crucial to Inspiring Change
In this era of rampant disinformation, the task of upholding truth and debunking damaging myths has never been more essential. Yet we’ve somehow become accustomed to the idea that truth is subjective or relative.
When philosophers from Protagoras to Kierkegaard explained that some truths could be subjective, this was meant to help us understand why subjects like ethics, religion, and aesthetics can be true in different ways to different people. Yet anti-trans activists have used a tactic called epistemic relativism (the idea that knowledge and truth are not absolute) to manipulate the ideas of subjectivity and objectivity, suggesting that personal or cultural interpretations of gender can override scientific consensus and societal understanding. This approach is often used to lend a veneer of legitimacy to their discriminatory actions against the transgender community.
Leveraging the concept of subjective truth allows those who seek to limit trans peoples’ rights to argue that their personal or religious beliefs supersede and can even negate the lived experiences of trans people. They often use these ideas to promote the notion that there are “alternative facts” or different versions of truth that align with their viewpoints, such as the simplistic belief that gender is a strict binary. By presenting inaccurate or misleading information and framing it as simply a “different perspective,” they blur the line between objective truth and subjective interpretation, fostering confusion and doubt and making people more susceptible to partisan interpretations of facts.
This is why it’s crucial to expose the disinformation and fear-mongering tactics behind anti-trans legislation, leverage evidence-based research and expert guidance as well as lived experience, and underline the importance of accurate information in policymaking. Only then can we collectively counteract harmful falsehoods.
Exposing the Roots of Misinformation Behind Anti-Trans Legislation
The contemporary political landscape is witnessing an escalating disinformation campaign against transgender individuals, with deep roots in Christian nationalist movements and conservative spheres. This anti-trans rhetoric fundamentally undermines the reality of transgender identities and weaponizes misinformation to propagate damaging legislation.
In particular, these myths manifest in harmful ways against transgender youth, with policies restricting access to gender-affirming care justified through debunked concepts like “rapid onset gender dysphoria.”
Pre-emptive debunking, or “prebunking,” is an effective strategy against the proliferation of disinformation. By providing accurate information on trans issues before misinformation can take root, we can better protect our communities from harmful narratives.
Another integral approach is understanding the role of disproportionate representation and scapegoating in the spread of disinformation. The public often significantly overestimates the size of marginalized populations, attributing negative traits to them in a distorted perspective. Transgender people make up only around 1% of the population but are frequently scapegoated as the source of societal problems.
Empowering Truth with Evidence-Based Research and Expert Guidance
Countering the spread of misinformation necessitates using evidence-based research and the insights of subject-matter experts. Organizations like the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health have consistently affirmed that gender transition treatments are medically necessary and can save lives.
A 2018 Williams Institute study revealed that fear-based legislation — such as bathroom bills that claim to be about safety — has no basis in reality, as there is no empirical evidence suggesting that allowing trans individuals access to restrooms that align with their gender identity increases safety risks.
Contrary to the false rhetoric being disseminated, the existing body of scientific research consistently validates the reality of transgender identities. Studies have shown that trans children continue to identify as trans as they grow up, and those who are not affirmed in their gender identity are at a significantly higher risk for self-harm and suicide attempts.
Combatting this disinformation necessitates a collective effort to educate ourselves, as well as our families and communities, about the importance of discerning and debunking these harmful narratives. Truth-telling can expose these damaging myths and ensure that policy debates are grounded in accurate, evidence-based information.
The Crucial Role of Accurate Information in Policymaking
The rampant misinformation in anti-trans legislation underlines the need for accurate, evidence-based information in policymaking. This isn’t simply about striving for an ideal of fairness and justice; it is a vital measure to protect the wellbeing, safety, and rights of the transgender community.
Legislators, policy advocates, and the public must critically examine the sources of their information, especially concerning issues as sensitive and vital as transgender rights and healthcare. Policies should reflect the consensus of leading medical organizations, which affirm the medical necessity of transition-related care and condemn practices like conversion therapy, a term for widely condemned practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Ignoring the substantial body of research supporting transgender rights and healthcare results in laws propagating fear, discrimination, and “othering.”
Compassion and Justice in Action
In our pursuit of justice, we must dismantle harmful structures and cultivate a society built on empathy, compassion, and understanding. The power of a love ethic, as articulated by scholars and author bell hooks, emphasizes the transformational potential of love as a public ethic and political tool.
Advocacy for transgender individuals needs to foster environments where trans identities are not just tolerated but respected, celebrated, and loved. To do this, we have to actively reshape the narrative to focus on promoting empathy, creating inclusive spaces, and advocating for legislation rooted in equity, justice, and human rights.
The first place we can start is by building inclusive and supportive environments, which are critical to the wellbeing of trans individuals. Schools, workplaces, and public spaces must be places where trans individuals can express their identity without fear of discrimination or violence.
Inclusive policies and practices — such as allowing individuals to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity or using correct pronouns — are simple but powerful steps towards inclusivity.
Supportive environments affirm the identities of trans people, allowing them to live authentically and without fear.
At the heart of a love ethic is respect for all people’s fundamental rights and dignity. Advocating for laws and policies that protect and affirm the rights of trans individuals is a critical component of this love ethic. This involves challenging legislation that discriminates against trans people and advocating for laws that protect them from discrimination in healthcare, housing, employment, and other areas.
On the individual level, helping to challenge anti-trans legislation can involve:
- Staying informed about local and state laws being proposed that could affect the transgender community. This typically involves reading local news, attending town hall meetings, and finding online resources that connect you to local legislative meetings.
- Using your voice to speak out against discriminatory laws. Posting on social media is most useful in helping to raise awareness. Attending peaceful protests, writing to your elected officials, and speaking out at public meetings can go a longer way in actually moving policies forward.
- Supporting politicians who prioritize transgender rights to healthcare, housing, employment, etc. Voting for them is an obvious act of support, but you can also help canvas for these politicians, write letters to the editor of your local newspaper, and use social media to raise awareness of their campaigns.
- Continuing to hold politicians accountable for campaign promises. Call their local office to register complaints and make your voice heard so they know their constituents are watching how they vote on legislation that protects the trans community.
Legislation rooted in equity and respect acknowledges and affirms the inherent dignity of trans individuals and is a powerful tool for societal change. But it doesn’t happen without support (and pressure) from constituents.
The Detrimental Impact of Fear-Based Legislation on Psychological Safety
The rampant misinformation and fear-mongering tactics used to justify anti-trans legislation have profound implications not only for the legal rights of trans people but also their psychological wellbeing and safety.
Fear-based legislation creates hostile environments that stigmatize transgender identities, leading to increased risks of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and suicidality, among the trans community. The continued propagation of discriminatory laws creates a society in which fear and prejudice are institutionalized, drastically undermining the physical and psychological safety of transgender people. This is illustrated by the fact that trans people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime.
Fear-based legislation exacerbates an unjust society in which legal discrimination is sanctioned by law, and the voices of marginalized communities are silenced. Data from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey reveals that 41% of trans people have attempted suicide. The correlation between this alarming figure and the prevalence of fear-based, discriminatory legislation cannot be ignored.
This counteracts the goals of initiatives such as GET Cities, which strive to promote belonging, equity, inclusion, and justice. It also fosters divisiveness, hampers societal development, and inhibits the realization of a truly inclusive and just society.
A Call to Action to Transform the System
Our moment for action is now. We’re called to deepen our understanding of the lived realities of transgender people, champion laws that honor and safeguard the rights of everyone, regardless of gender identity, and to extend our hands in support of the transgender community in all possible ways.
A society that truly sees, accepts, and respects the rights of transgender people isn’t just a pipe dream — it’s an imperative. By embracing understanding, empathy, and informed advocacy, we can engineer a shift in our societal structures and knock down the pillars of discrimination.
Now is the time to commit to building a world where policies born out of fear are supplanted by those rooted in empathy, comprehension, and profound respect for human rights. That’s why initiatives such as GET Cities have never been more pressing.
By opening pathways into ecosystem participation, career advancement, and entrepreneurial endeavors, we strive to accelerate the influence and power to those who have been traditionally excluded. If our tech industry — and our society — is to reach its full potential, it must reflect the diversity of the world it serves and give everyone a seat at the table and the opportunity to thrive.
Below are a few of the organizations we recommend following and supporting as we continue this work together:
National Center for Transgender Equality
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
