The Global War on Trans Lives: When Being Yourself Becomes a Target

Hatred doesn't always come with raised fists or hateful slurs. Sometimes it hides in legislation, in silence, in polite conversations that erase entire lives. In today's America, and in many parts of the world, transgender people are not just misunderstood. They are targeted. Vilified. Dehumanised. But misunderstood by many people. But why? Every day, I ask myself why does someone living as their true self provoke such deep discomfort, such dangerous rage? This blog isn't about politics, it's about people. It's about truth, safety, and the right to exist. Now is the time to talk about the cost of staying quiet.

When moving to San Francisco prior to the HIV/AIDS crisis, I experienced and witnessed the discrimination and abuse of gay people. The hatred existed from all communities, including the gay and bisexual community. If you were a gay or queer person of colour during that time, you were despised even more so by white gay men. Observing and learning so much from lessons in life, I believe that Trans people are not a threat to anyone. Our ability to accept someone different from ourselves is the real threat to humanity.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 32 transgender and gender non-conforming people were violently killed in the United States in 2022 alone, with most being Black/African American and Latina trans women. (Source: HRC 2023 Report on Fatal Violence Against Transgender People).

The visibility of transgender people is increasing globally, with more people openly identifying as transgender and non-binary. This trend is reflected in increased media representation and awareness campaigns like Transgender Day of Visibility. However, while increased visibility is a positive step, it also presents challenges, such as heightened discrimination and violence. Hatred tends to come from:

• Fear of difference and discomfort with gender non-conformity.

• Religious and cultural beliefs used to justify exclusion. Trans people may be described as violating divine or natural laws. They are often referred to as immoral or sinful.

• Political scapegoating - Using trans identities to divide and distract.

• Media portrayal and misinformation. Trans people are often labelled predators or being mentally unstable.

  
  

Hatred tends to manifest because of discriminatory laws and policies that ban gender affirming care, bathroom/toilet access, verbal harassment, online abuse, and misgendering. All over the world, physical violence and murders, especially against Black and Brown trans women continue to occur. In many places, reaching out to the police can be a waste of time since many express their views by not responding. The mental health impact, depression, and suicide rates continue to climb throughout America and other countries.

Estimating the exact number of transgender individuals worldwide is challenging due to differences in data collection and societal acceptance. However, recent studies provide some insights:

• Global Estimates: Conservative estimates suggest that transgender individuals comprise between 0.1% and 0.5% of the global population, equating to approximately 7 to 35 million people worldwide according to the Human Rights Campaign.

  • Brazil: A 2021 survey estimated that about 0.69% of Brazilian adults identify as transgender, and 1.19% as non-binary.

  • Canada: The 2021 Census reported that 59,460 Canadians (0.19% of the population) identified as transgender.

  • United States: Over 1.6 million individuals aged 13 and up identify as transgender, representing 0.6% of this age group.

  • Australia: As of 2022, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates that approximately 178,900 Australians aged 16 and over identify as transgender or gender diverse. This includes trans men, trans women, and non-binary individuals. This represents about 0.9% of the adult population.

    
    

• Generational Differences: Younger generations are more likely to identify as transgender or non-binary. For instance, 4% of Gen Z individuals identify outside the traditional gender binary, compared to 1% among all adults.

In our society today, there are many things that we can do to make positive changes in the way transgender people are being treated globally. Here are a few ideas that can be initiated:

• Educating each other and unlearning bias or judgments against others.

• Now is the time to start listening to trans voices.

• Creating legal protections and safe spaces.

• It always helps to practice empathy and active alliances to support and advocate for marginalised groups fostering inclusion and equity.

Whether you believe it or not, hating others for being themselves is a failure of love, respect, and imagination. We must challenge ourselves to stand against all hate, even when it's unpopular or uncomfortable to do so. Understanding the global landscape of transgender individuals involves recognising the diversity of experiences and the varying degrees of acceptance and legal recognition worldwide. Continued efforts in education, policy, and representation are essential to promote inclusivity and equality. One of the key questions that I often ask myself about many issues is - "What kind of world do we want to build for all of us?"