The “Monster Under the Bed” of Gender Politics
Few political tools are more powerful than fear. The far right clearly understands this. It’s evident in their relentless use of anti-trans rhetoric as part of a larger effort to shape the public debate. This is often framed as a fight against “gender ideology,” a fabricated construct used to portray transgender people and their attempts to live dignified lives as a threat to society. There is more to it than the harm done to a small, vulnerable group of fellow humans. It’s also damaging the larger political institutions that serve all of us.
As election season approaches this is a good time to remind ourselves that such toxic political fearmongering is like the childhood “monster under the bed.” Switch on the light and fear no longer appears overwhelming. Its power vanishes.
Shedding that sort of light on the anti-trans fearmongering of far-right ideologues is a worthy goal for the upcoming election cycle. We have to come to terms with the success the far right has had with anti-trans rhetoric, then replace it with the sort of understanding that is born of both education and empathy. The narrative that succeeds must communicate that trans people are, quite simply, us. We all benefit when they are allowed to participate in society. We all suffer when they are threatened.
Since our founding in 1983, The Advocates for Human Rights has offered legal support to hundreds of LGBTIQ+ clients, while documenting the fear-based narratives being used to restrict their rights both here and around the globe. More recently, we have devoted significant attention to examining the movements that have promoted anti-trans rhetoric, while focusing our efforts on challenging narratives surrounding so-called “gender ideology.” We have learned that anti-trans rhetoric rarely emerges in isolation; it is often part of a broader political strategy that uses fear to reshape public discourse and weaken protections for all vulnerable communities. In many cases, this rhetoric shifts public attention toward questions of gender identity and away from other pressing issues like the cost of living, public safety, healthcare, education, and economic stability.
Those targeted obviously have much to gain from improved understanding. A growing body of research suggests that greater acceptance of diverse gender identities is associated with improved individual wellbeing, stronger social cohesion, and more inclusive institutions. For individuals who face discrimination, inclusion is linked to lower stress, reduced isolation, and better mental health outcomes.
But we shouldn’t lose sight of the positive effects that extend to society as a whole. Countries that protect individual rights and promote inclusion tend to have stronger democratic institutions and higher levels of public trust. When people feel accepted in their communities and workplaces, they are better able to participate fully in social and economic life, strengthening collaboration and institutional effectiveness. More broadly, these societal gains include greater innovation, improved retention, stronger economic performance, and lower public health costs.
For politicians and voters alike, there are signs this is an opportune time to push back against anti-trans rhetoric. In last year’s gubernatorial race in Virginia, Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears used a political strategy that placed transgender issues at the center of her campaign, portraying gender diversity as a threat to social order. Virginians ultimately rejected both her and her message by a wide margin. On a larger stage Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who’d shown himself a master at using scare campaigns targeting everyone from migrants to LGBTIQ+ people to keep himself in office, was decisively swept out in that country’s recent election.
Like children who learn to stop believing in the “monster under the bed,” it’s up to all of us to take a stand against fear-based narratives in the public debate. We can’t expect to destroy the grip of anti-trans scare campaigns in one election cycle. But every electoral upset or bad poll number moves us closer to that end. That’s the power we all possess. Once we recognize this, we can refocus public debate on the full range of issues that shape people’s daily lives, ensuring that the rights and dignity of all people remain part of a healthy democracy.
For individuals who face discrimination, inclusion is linked to lower stress, reduced isolation, and better mental health outcomes.
