Stop Pathologizing Transgender People

Over 650 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in 46 states in Q1 2023, and more than 75 have become law. The strongest focus is on stripping away transgender rights, including prohibiting transgender behaviors and blocking young trans people from physically transitioning.

Public support is needed to protect transgender rights. Despite the fact that a great majority of Americans support nondiscrimination protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, most Americans say that gender is determined by sex at birth. This belief weakens public support for transgender rights.

The belief is, however, at odds with experience. There are numerous stories online from transgender people who know very early that they are transgender. For example, Jordan, a 34-year-old (trans) man from Columbia, Maryland, expressed, “Ever since I could remember, I’d always felt I’m a guy. From the age of 2, I would tell people I’m a boy. I even came up with a boy version of my birth name, and I would tell people I’m that. It was just never a question in my head.” And like Robyn, a 34-year-old (trans) woman. “I was about 6 years old when I picked up that I’m trans. You know how kids describe what they want to be when they grow up, like a firefighter? When I was 6 years old, I said wanted to be a woman when I grew up.”

(https://www.vox.com/a/transgender-stories)

It is my hope that we will be open to listening to our trans brothers and sisters’ experiences – and to affirming their experiences as valid expressions of the human experience. It’s time to stop pathologizing trans people.