A Christian psychologist, educator, and activist has expressed compassion for transgender people because he thinks they are confused and misdirected. But he also suggested they deserved to be beaten if they stepped into the wrong restroom. Some religious leaders say even worse things from their pulpits: that transgender people should be executed, citing ancient scriptures as their justification. But most of the conversation I hear about transgender people comes from those who vent their outrage about sports, citing a tiny percentage of transgender people who allegedly compete unfairly.
I wish I could address these people, although I’m sure they’re not reading this, or anything else. Nonetheless, I wish I could say:
Just admit that transgender people scare you, and you’d rather they went back into hiding or died because you don’t want to change your understanding of gender and biology. I understand it’s scary to grow up and learn something new because everything would be more complicated, and besides, you’d have to admit that you were wrong! But it beats your hiding behind bathrooms, Bibles, and sporting events to justify your attacks—that’s just pitiful.
It’s more complicated than that, you say? I agree, and rather than beating them up or killing them, we should take the time to listen to transgender persons (and they are persons) in order to understand them better. But that’s not happening. Instead, many would rather make laws requiring doctors to withhold treatment, teachers to withhold information, and social workers to pull children from their homes. Rather than listening, discussing, and learning, people are waging war against a very small minority.
Why?
Why are you so scared? Transgender people are not trying to overthrow the government. They are not predatory. They’re not hurting the economy. Rather than threatening anyone, they are being threatened, often with injury and death.
To all of you who want to beat up someone in a public bathroom like the Christian psychologist suggested, I say you’re chicken. Why don’t you show some real guts and face yourself?
Deep Calls 
David,
This is spot on. Thank you.
Margaret
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Here is what you did that was brilliant and I wish more allies would do. You did not take the bait of the strawman/whatabout/red herring bs and you changed and elevated the conversation to the point.
Just like it was never about water fountains it is not about bathrooms and women’s sports.
There is this mindset that by respecting and validating trans people, adjusting our language, adjusting out understanding of gender beyond the binary that somehow we lose something.
Embracing a broader understanding does not cancel you, diminish you, or reduce you. But it does allow our world to be safer, broader, and more beautiful.
You hosted the correct conversation and did not take the bait and talk about this on the terms of the willfully ignorant. I hope more follow your lead.
People of our general age demographic adjusted from rotary phones and slide rules to smart phones. I think we can handle inclusive love and proper language.
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Yes, people on all sides tend to get off point. I think we can change, too.
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Thank you, David. You mange to balance passion with logic in an effective way. I, too, wish you weren’t preaching to the choir, so to speak.
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