In the barrage of stories reflecting the anti-transgender backlash, it is important to keep in mind the many victories trans people and the trans community won in 2024.
This article by Erin Reed discusses J.K. Rowling’s recent claim that “there are no trans kids,” which has been widely criticized as false and harmful.
Rowling’s statement contradicts extensive research and the lived experiences of transgender individuals. Studies have documented the existence of transgender youth and the negative impacts of anti-trans laws on their mental health.
Reed writes:
Transgender youth do not emerge “from nowhere,” nor are they “caused” by “kids watching TikTok videos,” as Rowling suggests in another comment. There is no evidence that transgender identities are “caused” by any external factor. Rather, transgender people have always existed as a natural part of human diversity.
Rowling’s comments are seen as part of a broader pattern of disinformation that erases the existence of transgender people and justifies discriminatory policies.
It is clear now that the ultimate objective for “gender critical” TERFs like Rowling is the total erasure of trans people.
The UK government’s decision to ban puberty blockers has been condemned by five major LGBT organizations in Europe.
ILGA-Europe, IPPF European Network, TGEU, IGLYO, and The Kite Trust argue that the ban is politically motivated and based on misinformation rather than medical expertise. They say:
The framing and justification for this ban have leaned heavily on a polarised and often misleading public narrative about trans identities and related trans healthcare and epistemologically, and methodologically questionable studies about trans identities and trans-specific healthcare. Despite claims of prioritising child safety, this decision disregards the consensus of medical professionals and organisations such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and the Endocrine Society’s Clinical Practice Guideline, which have long endorsed puberty blockers as a safe and reversible option for managing gender dysphoria in minors. These treatments allow young people experiencing distress with their assigned gender to pause puberty, giving them time to better understand their needs and identity, without the added pressure of physical changes brought on by puberty.
They emphasize that puberty blockers are a safe and reversible treatment for managing gender dysphoria in minors, endorsed by leading medical authorities.
The ban is seen as discriminatory and harmful, potentially leading to increased mental health struggles for transgender youth and driving families to seek unregulated sources for treatment.
The Karnataka High Court has ruled that the registrar of births and deaths must accept transgender certificates and issue birth and death certificates reflecting the change in gender.
“With a stroke of my pen on day one, we are going to stop the transgender lunacy,” Trump said. “And I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high schools, and we will keep men out of women’s sports.”
Maxim Magnus (photo), a transgender model and activist, has been vocal about the challenges faced by the transgender community, particularly in the fashion industry. She emphasizes the importance of authentic representation and the need for systemic change to prevent further trauma among transgender individuals.
She points out that when society seeks to unite people, it often does so by creating a common adversary, and unfortunately, transgender individuals have been placed in that role. This dynamic contributes to the marginalization and trauma experienced by the transgender community.
On December 19, 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a provision removing healthcare coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender family members of armed service personnel.
This marks the first anti-LGBTQ+ provision passed by Congress in years, raising concerns about future legislative actions affecting transgender individuals. Senator Tammy Baldwin, along with 20 other Democrats, introduced an amendment to remove the anti-trans language from the bill.
However, Democratic leadership did not allow a vote on this amendment, potentially to avoid forcing senators to publicly take a stance on transgender rights. Consequently, the bill proceeded to a final vote, where 37 Democratic senators voted in favor of the NDAA with the anti-trans provision intact.
The bill now awaits President Joe Biden’s decision to either sign it into law or issue a veto.
HARPER: From a trans perspective, what I want is for people to understand the damage that happens when you stop people from becoming who they need to be. If you deprive people of their gender, you’re depriving them of a chance at true joy.
