The Current State of Transition in the U.S.

Why is it so hard for anti-trans activists to realize they are indoctrinating their children?

4 min read

Just now

Over the past several years, I have noticed an undeniable increase in transphobic rhetoric, both online and in-person. As a trans man who has been medically transitioning for the past six years, this is concerning.

When I first moved to a rural area at the start of my transition, friends and family asked, “Aren’t you worried?” Transition and all of its challenges were still new to me — so, indeed, I had some concerns about safety, and whether or not I would be able to make friends and feel a sense of belonging.

However, things seemed to be getting better for trans people every day. More clinics were offering informed-consent access to gender-affirming care. More states were introducing laws protecting the rights of trans people in the workplace and in healthcare.

Several actors and singers (Demi Lovato and Sam Smith come to mind) announced they were using they/them pronouns, and news articles and laypersons alike largely supported them. I found a job in my small, conservative town, and a coworker asked about my preferred pronouns.

One of the unexpected challenges of medically transitioning is how long it takes for…