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In recent years, politicians have increasingly used transgender people as a political scapegoat, framing them as threats rather than human beings deserving of dignity and respect. From bathroom bans to sports restrictions, transgender people are portrayed as villains in a culture war they didn’t start. Transgender people aren’t something new or trending in the last few years – they have existed throughout all of history, being traced as far back as ancient Egyptian culture. Here is one such example from the National WWII Museum. But the reality is far from the fear mongering headlines. Transgender people are just people – students, teachers, doctors, and neighbors – trying to live their lives just like anyone else.
What do the Locals Say?
Politicians often claim that transgender rights threaten society, but these claims rarely hold up to scrutiny. Many of the most vocal anti-transgender politicians don’t personally know a transgender person, yet they use inflammatory rhetoric to stir up division. This disconnect is reflected in a survey of over a hundred students and staff at North Scott, where approximately half reported knowing at least one transgender person. Notably, discussions and concerns were overwhelmingly focused on transgender women, with almost none talking about transgender men… could this be a bias on how transgender people are perceived?
It is notable how obvious these links in the data are. Most people who disliked or expressed gross amounts of hate or threatening language (36.9%) had never met or known a transgender person (40.7%). Most people who think positively (40.2%) or neutral (23%) about transgender people, do know a transgender person (42.2%).
The survey conducted for this article found that 80% or more of respondents frequently hear negative rhetoric about transgender people from politicians and/or media. This tracks the recent obsession and fear mongering over transgender people that has spiked in the last 3-4 years.
One common citation by disapproving people is their faith or religion. This line of thinking was surprisingly found on both sides of the spectrum. One respondent, when asked about their views on transgender people, simply claims: “Negative, god gave you a gender for a reason.” This response is interesting when complemented by the following response: “My religion tells me that the act of being transgender is bad, but that doesn't mean I should go around hating on them and being all mean, because that doesn't bring people to Jesus, it does the opposite.” It is intriguing to see different interpretations of the same writings and teachings in respondents.
The data trend is, again, painfully obvious. People who express dislike or negative thoughts about transgender people do not know one, and actively believe in untruthful information or information given to them in bad faith.
Of course, the three oldest arguments against transgender people in the history of the world manifested themselves, the bathroom panic, sports, and “forced ideology”.
The Bathroom Panic
One of the oldest and most persistent anti-transgender arguments is the idea that allowing transgender people to use public restrooms matching their identity is dangerous. Opponents often claim that this will enable sexual predators to target women and children. However, there is no credible evidence to support this. In 2007, the Iowa Civil Rights Act was expanded to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations. In an interview with Media Matters, Des Moines Police Department spokesman Jason Halifax stated that he hadn't seen cases of sexual assault related to the state's non-discrimination ordinance: “We have not seen that. I doubt that's gonna encourage the behavior. If the behavior's there, [sexual predators are] gonna behave as they're gonna behave no matter what the laws are.” No credible source has produced any evidence that suggests inclusivity bills concerning public restrooms have led to an increase in assaults. Another common claim is that a man can just say that they are transgender and get into the women’s bathroom. If this is indeed the case, then your issue lies with predatory males, not transgender people who need to use the restroom. This claim is so old that the wide response is the same, loosely being: if you immediately think of something sexual when a transgender person uses the bathroom, that says more about you than it does them.
On the other hand, transgender people face significant risks when forced into bathrooms that don’t align with their gender, or in most cases, even when it does align. Studies show that transgender individuals are more likely to experience harassment or violence in restrooms, making restrictive policies a real danger – not just an inconvenience. On February 8th, 2024, a 16-year-old transgender student in Oklahoma passed away, their death being ruled a suicide. This case matters because the evidence available doesn’t align; it points to death via brain injury. This was sustained the day before, on February 7th, when the student, Nex Benedict, was beaten unconscious in a bathroom at their high school. Nex was taken to the hospital and released, only to be readmitted the following day. On the 8th, however, Nex succumbed to sustained injuries and tragically died.
Transgender people aren't the threat in public bathrooms, they seem to be the threatened ones.
Transgender Athletes: The Real Story
The "issue" of transgender athletes, particularly transgender women in women’s sports, has become a major talking point among politicians. However, the narrative that transgender athletes dominate competitions is misleading. The reality is that transgender athletes are a tiny percentage of competitors, and there is no widespread evidence of unfair advantages. As of the 7th of February, 2025, Transgender women will be barred from competing in NCAA women’s college sports, the sports organization announced on Thursday, a day after President Trump effectively forced the decision by reversing federal policy. That decision, effective immediately, followed Trump’s signing of an executive order asking his agencies to withdraw federal funding from educational institutions if they defied him and let transgender girls and women compete. Please note no mention of transgender males here. The new policy limits women’s competition to athletes assigned female at birth and covers all of the NCAA’s sports. Appearing before Congress last year, Mr. Baker said that there were fewer than 10 transgender athletes among the 500,000-plus students who play NCAA. sports. “It’s like taking a bulldozer to knock down the wrong building,” said Suzanne Goldberg, a professor at Columbia University Law School and an expert on gender and sexuality law, adding that the policy distracts from the serious problem of girls and women not having equal opportunities in sports.
Most transgender athletes undergo medical transition, which affects hormone levels and muscle composition. Sports organizations like the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee have established guidelines to ensure fairness, requiring hormone levels to be within a specific range for competition. Additionally, biological advantages exist in sports across all categories – height, lung capacity, fast-twitch muscle fibers – yet we only see targeted outrage when it involves transgender people. When an Algerian woman won a boxing match, people tried to claim she was transgender; she wasn't. Even more specifically, it begs the question: why are only transgender women targeted, specifically?
The Myth Of A Forced Ideology
A very common argument against transgender people and LGBTQ+ people as a whole is that the "lifestyle" or "ideology" is being forced upon others. This belief often stems from the increasing visibility of LGBTQ+ identities in media, education, and everyday life. Some individuals feel uncomfortable seeing LGBTQ+ representation in TV shows, social media, schools, and workplaces, interpreting it as an imposition rather than a reflection of the diverse world we live in.
However, the idea that LGBTQ+ identities are being "forced" onto people is often based on a misunderstanding. Simply acknowledging the existence of transgender people does not coerce anyone into adopting an identity they do not align with. LGBTQ+ advocacy is primarily about creating spaces where those who already identify this way can exist safely, access necessary resources, and receive the same respect and rights as others.
Critics often point to policies such as gender-inclusive restrooms, the inclusion of gender identity in school curriculums, or corporate Pride campaigns as examples of this so-called "forced ideology." However, these initiatives do not demand that anyone change their personal beliefs; they simply work toward ensuring equal treatment and visibility for marginalized individuals. Just as racial and religious diversity are present in public spaces without being seen as an imposition, LGBTQ+ representation functions similarly.
Overall, I can guarantee that nobody has told (or forced) you to be or to interact with anyone on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. The opposite of this is true, and very harmful to those affected. The entire message as a whole is the same as we were taught in elementary school: if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Nobody is asking for special permissions here; they are just (kindly) asking to be treated as you would any other human being.
So, What Is Happening?
The Trump-aligned Republican Party relies on fear to maintain a following. Since their economic policies don’t help the working class, they need cultural enemies to keep voters distracted. In the past, it was immigrants and Black Lives Matter activists – now, it’s transgender people. The sudden obsession with transgender rights isn’t about genuine concern; it’s about manufacturing a crisis to keep their main voter cluster outraged and therefore engaged. By painting transgender people as a threat, they avoid addressing real issues like healthcare, wages, and corporate corruption.
Randall Balmer, a Dartmouth professor who was raised evangelical, has spent much of his career researching these contradictions: “[Republicans] have an interest in keeping the base riled up about one thing or another, and when one issue fades, as with same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage, they’ve got to find something else. It’s almost frantic.” This also opens the door to the question: “Why does everyone need to follow your religion?” Which is a can of worms that is better left to another article.
This strategy works because fear is a powerful tool. When people are scared, they’re easier to manipulate, and it’s easier to blame a marginalized group than to hold the wealthy and powerful accountable. But transgender people aren’t the enemy – wages are still low, healthcare is still unaffordable, and corporations still exploit workers, regardless of who’s in which bathroom. The real threat to everyday Americans isn’t transgender rights – it’s the politicians using fear to cover for their failures.
Meanwhile, transgender people continue to exist – just as they always have. They go to school, work jobs, raise their families, and contribute to their communities. They are not the monsters that politicians and media paint them as; they are just people – people who deserve to live in a society that sees and treats them as such.
What Do We Do About It?
One of the clearest takeaways from the survey data is that the majority of people who hold negative views about transgender individuals don’t know any – they’ve simply been told to fear them. This highlights the power of misinformation and the way political rhetoric shapes public perception. The best way to combat this is through education, conversation, and visibility. When people meet and interact with transgender individuals, they often realize that the fear and hostility they’ve been fed are baseless. Encouraging open dialogue, sharing real experiences, and pushing back against harmful narratives can go a long way in shifting public opinion.
Beyond personal interactions, it’s also essential to challenge policies and politicians that use transgender people as scapegoats for larger societal issues. Misinformation thrives when left unchecked, so supporting accurate education, calling out false claims, and advocating for inclusive policies can help counteract the harm done by political fear mongering. At the end of the day, transgender people aren’t asking for anything special – just the same dignity and respect that should be afforded to everyone. One thing remains clear: regardless of how you feel, transgender people will continue to exist.
