Anti-Trans Myths
Recently, I saw a meme (below) that stopped me cold. It deepened my awareness of how vulnerable gay and trans teens are. Worse, it underscored how deadly anti-gay/trans rhetoric and policies can be. The Trevor Project – Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Young People
To be clear, higher suicide rates for gay and trans individuals are not innate. They are directly related to a culture that is non-accepting and abusive. Facts About Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Young People
Despite the gains made for marriage equality, attacks on sexually diverse individuals have recently increased. Specifcally, political rhetoric and discriminatory policies target transgendered people.
It is crucial to understand that the attacks against trans individuals are based on false notions and outright lies. Health Misinformation Monitor: Falsehoods About Transgender People and Gender Affirming Care | KFF
Even though the medical community debunks the lies, politicians and social media continue to spread them. In this highly charged environment, politically hyped paranoia undermines respect for medical science. gay rights | Pastoral Counseling Syracuse NY
Even so, people who support equal rights for sexually diverse citizens must not give up or give in. Given the potential harm, we must continue to confront each false claim as it arises.
To begin, let’s be clear about some basic terms:
— Transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth.
— Sex has to do with physical sex characteristics.
— Gender refers to the cultural roles of males and females.
— Sexual orientation refers to what sex sexually arouses you. Answers to your questions about transgender people, gender identity, and gender expression
With these in mind, here are some of the most false claims that are used to discredit and malign transgendered individuals.
