You Do Not, Under Any Circumstances, Have to Hand it to Them

The right keeps escalating their attacks on trans people. Violence and threats would only make it worse.

The right’s war on trans people is escalating, and it’s no accident. Every wave of legislative cruelty, every smear campaign in the media, every baseless accusation of “grooming” serves a purpose: to isolate, dehumanize, and provoke. The goal isn’t just to legislate trans people out of public life—it’s to stoke anger and fear so intense that someone, somewhere, does something irrevocable. Something that they can use to force us back into the shadows for a generation or more.

Trans people in many communities are experiencing loss—loss of healthcare, loss of community, loss of hope for a future. In these conditions, in a country with easy access to firearms, what could happen next is horrifyingly predictable. The right knows this and has been laying the groundwork by pretending that every mass shooter is trans and amplifying every angry threat. Do not, under any circumstances, give them more fuel for this story. It may well burn us all.

By painting trans people as threats to children or to the moral order, the right isn’t just inflaming cultural divisions; it’s laying the groundwork for violence. History is clear: rhetoric like this doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It finds its way into the minds of vigilantes, militia groups, and armed extremists who see themselves as enforcers of a moral crusade. We’ve seen it before—Kyle Rittenhouse crossing state lines with a rifle, Eddie Gallagher’s war crimes pardoned and celebrated as patriotism—and we know how quickly these narratives can spiral into bloodshed.

The implications are terrifying. In states like Texas and Florida, where state and local governments have already signaled their hostility to the trans community, there’s reason to doubt that authorities would step in to stop vigilante violence, especially if seen as a response to an inciting incident, no matter how disproportionate.

This is a moment of profound moral clarity for the trans community. The stakes are unimaginably high, and the risks of escalation are real. Faced with such an existential threat, we need to embrace a strategy that balances self-preservation with a firm rejection of the hatred and violence being wielded against us.

Civil disobedience and pacifism are the most powerful tools we have. History shows us that movements rooted in nonviolence can disarm even the most entrenched systems of hate. By refusing to meet violence with violence, we force the world to confront the raw inhumanity of the oppressors. This isn’t about weakness or submission—it’s about refusing to let them set the terms of engagement. Refusing to give them what they want.

I am not advocating against arming yourself in the name of self defense, which may well become necessary in some communities. That’s a personal decision, and one that no one can make lightly. If you choose this path, I urge you to do so with care, training, and an understanding of the gravity involved. But the uncomfortable reality is that as a tiny community we cannot afford to go on the offense and risk losing the sympathy of our allies.

And finally, we have to remember that not all battles need to be fought in hostile territory. This country is large, and welcoming communities do exist. Cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York have built strong networks of support for trans and nonbinary people. Moving to one of these places isn’t giving up. It’s recognizing that sometimes the best way to fight back is to live your life fully and authentically, surrounded by people who will stand with you. Every breath you take infuriates the people who yearn for our humiliation.

This moment is unfair and heartbreaking. It is infuriating to have to weigh your safety against your desire to resist injustice. But none of us are alone in this. We are a community, and we are stronger together. Whatever comes next, we will face it—not with fear or hatred, but with the determination to live to build something better.

And one day, it will be better. Until then, take care of yourself and each other. That, more than anything else, is how we win.