Transmissions: In defense of transgender people

A recent 19th News/Survey Monkey poll found that four in 10 Americans want politicians to stop focusing on transgender issues. It is also worth noting that this is pretty evenly split between the right and the left.

I am one of that four in 10. The survey was conducted among 20,807 American adults between September 8-15.

Before I go much further, I also think it's worth taking a moment to talk about those who do want that focus to continue, in that 29% feel politicians should protect transgender people, while 25% feel that the focus should be on restricting transgender medical care. I can take some heart in this.

The thing I'm concerned about, however, is that there are two ways people can read the 40% who do not feel politicians should focus on transgender issues.

You see, if you ask me, I really would prefer politicians stop with what feels like a never-ending drumbeat of attacks on transgender people.

In the wake of the Charlie Kirk killing, for one, the conservative Heritage Foundation urged the FBI to add "Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violent Extremism" as a domestic terrorism category. The same week, President Donald Trump signed a vaguely-worded executive order that would also press law enforcement – in particular the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force – to crack down on "domestic terrorism and political violence."

Likewise, as our government once again endures another shutdown, the right has injected several anti-trans policies into the spending bill, stripping transgender people from health care.

Or, as Trump put it in yet another social media post, Democrats want to "force Taxpayers to fund Transgender surgery for minors. ... allow men to play in women's sports, and essentially create Transgender operations for everybody."

So, yes, I have to say, I'm pretty tired of having to listen to the right, and in particular, Trump, talk about transgender issues.

Yet, what I see in this survey is an America that is weary of hearing the right wing using trans people as political pawns, rather than offering up actual policies that help our country. But I fear that the takeaway for Democratic leaders is that they need to talk even less about transgender people.

In the 2024 election, Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris – who many in the transgender community were wary of due to her history in San Francisco and California politics – largely avoided mentioning transgender issues on the campaign trail. While Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, her vice presidential pick, did not shy away from this, Harris would only offer to "follow the law" on transgender rights. Anyone who was paying attention could easily read that statement and conclude that she would not be a very strong ally.

Indeed, the only party who pressed on transgender issues was the Republicans, as the Democrats sought to avoid the issue altogether. Now, as the 2026 midterms already start to heat up, the right has made it clear that their playbook will once again focus on transgender rights.

Meanwhile, some Democrats are flirting with turning away from transgender issues entirely, questioning their need to work with us and trying to seek the elusive support of right-leaning centrists in their "big tent."

Now, I'm not a well-paid pollster or a Washington lobbyist. I'm just an older trans woman who has been around these blocks more than a few times over the last couple of decades.

What I feel people want to hear out of Democrats is not a message that's so diluted it makes La Croix sparkling water seem flavorful. Rather, they want a party that knows how to lead – and part of showing that leadership is knowing when to stand up and address injustice head-on.

I feel it is remarkably easy to deflate the ani-trans talking points of the right, even now, by taking them head on. Ask Republicans why they are so obsessed with this issue, to the point of neglecting the needs of everyone in the United States. Stop running from the topic, and put conservatives on the defensive.

By not addressing transgender issues, by just remaining silent and pretending they don't exist or – like California Governor Gavin Newsom – by weighing ignorance and ceding ground on trans rights, Democrats let the right continue to pummel them.

After having a year or so to come up with a coherent response, so far all I'm hearing from Democrats is a general chorus of, "la la, we can't hear you," as they cover their ears. Meanwhile, this will just remain at the forefront while they try to duck and weave around it, looking weak and feckless in the process.

I want our Democratic leaders to go practice this in a mirror, preparing for the next time they are asked about transgender issues – "I don't know about everyone else, but I'm so tired of hearing the GOP go after transgender people. Like always, they don't seem to have a way to solve issues, so they just attack a small and powerless minority. It's bully behavior, and we know how to treat a bully, don't we?"

Now, isn't that easy?

Again, I may not have all the answers here, but between this 19th News/Survey Monkey poll pointing out a growing weariness of trans issues in politics, coupled with a small minority wanting more protections for transgender people, this should seem obvious.

It certainly makes more sense than letting the right continue to dominate the issue. Especially when that issue is making life more and more fraught for actual, factual transgender people. Such as myself, for example.

Those who want to win need to step up and lead, and this is an issue you most certainly could – and should – lead on.

Gwen Smith is holding out for a hero. You can find her at www.gwensmith.com