Hell Followed With Us

Content Warning: This section discusses anti-trans bias.

In the United States today, a cultural divide exists between those who see diversity and inclusion as positive progress and those who do not. Anti-trans bias has always been an issue, but as trans people find their voices and no longer hide who they are, people who are made uncomfortable by these identities speak and act out against them. At the same time, acceptance of trans people is increasing but is being held back by intolerance and, in many cases, religious extremism. In these cases, religion is used to justify violence against trans people and diminish their worth as human beings. Through a wider lens, trans people (and LGBTQ+ people more broadly) are often shamed, hated, ostracized, and attacked, sometimes even by their own family and friends.

In recent years, many states have passed anti-trans legislation. These laws target anything from trans participation in sports, to bathroom access, to gender-affirming care. According to NPR and The Trevor Project, “states that passed anti-transgender laws aimed at minors saw suicide attempts by transgender and gender nonconforming teenagers increase by as much as 72% in the following years” (Simmons-Duffin, Selena. “More Trans Teens Attempted Suicide After States Passed Anti-Trans Laws, a Study Shows.