Maybe compared to a generation ago things are better, but over the past few years there has definitely been a ramp up in anti-trans rhetoric, both from the media and right wing politicians.
Bathroom bills, legislation against gender affirming care, even media and literature bans in the US. And in the UK the Tories are increasingly trying to single out trans people, (unsuccessfully) excluding them from bans on conversion therapy. Even the PM was recently recorded making anti-trans jokes.
Last year Yougov published data showing an overall decrease in support for trans people compared to 2018.
It is better than it was a long time ago, yes, but it’s not better than it was more recently.
Public opinion fluctuates short-term and I’m not arguing that it doesn’t suck, but the overall trend is definitely positive. Don’t lose your optimism! This recent trend is a backlash against greater trans visibility in the mainstream - it’s a very bad symptom of a very good thing and if we stay on top of it, it will subside.
I think we are on the same page. I’m not trans myself, but I’ve definitely noticed increasing anti-trans sentiment amongst people I talk to. I agree that a lot of that is in reaction to increased media presence, but I also think that a lot of this is the typical pushing of the “us vs them” mentality that people in power find useful, it’s just the people defined as “them” has shifted.
I’m still optimistic, but we need to be aware of these things, and push back against them when they crop up, otherwise that optimism will be in vain.
I’m a middle aged man with a family, two cats and a mortgage. I don’t want to be having to fight for common decency to fellow humans, but increasingly feel like I’m being pushed to it. I’m tired, and I just want to potter about in my garden with a cup of tea.
Maybe compared to a generation ago things are better, but over the past few years there has definitely been a ramp up in anti-trans rhetoric, both from the media and right wing politicians.
Bathroom bills, legislation against gender affirming care, even media and literature bans in the US. And in the UK the Tories are increasingly trying to single out trans people, (unsuccessfully) excluding them from bans on conversion therapy. Even the PM was recently recorded making anti-trans jokes.
Last year Yougov published data showing an overall decrease in support for trans people compared to 2018.
It is better than it was a long time ago, yes, but it’s not better than it was more recently.
Public opinion fluctuates short-term and I’m not arguing that it doesn’t suck, but the overall trend is definitely positive. Don’t lose your optimism! This recent trend is a backlash against greater trans visibility in the mainstream - it’s a very bad symptom of a very good thing and if we stay on top of it, it will subside.
I think we are on the same page. I’m not trans myself, but I’ve definitely noticed increasing anti-trans sentiment amongst people I talk to. I agree that a lot of that is in reaction to increased media presence, but I also think that a lot of this is the typical pushing of the “us vs them” mentality that people in power find useful, it’s just the people defined as “them” has shifted.
I’m still optimistic, but we need to be aware of these things, and push back against them when they crop up, otherwise that optimism will be in vain.
I’m a middle aged man with a family, two cats and a mortgage. I don’t want to be having to fight for common decency to fellow humans, but increasingly feel like I’m being pushed to it. I’m tired, and I just want to potter about in my garden with a cup of tea.