By John Q. Hosedrinker 
This article details the author’s journey as a transgender man, highlighting the challenges faced during their social and medical transition. A significant obstacle was their father’s evolving anti-trans views, delaying access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and causing significant family strain. Despite this, the author ultimately accessed HRT and is now navigating a hostile political climate that further restricts transgender rights. The author advocates for a proactive response to combat anti-trans legislation and the broader erosion of transgender rights.
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I’m a trans teen in Texas, and the hateful rhetoric spewed by politicians and anti-trans bigots won’t erase me. Their actions, fueled by dangerous conspiracies spread by right-wing activists and lawmakers, have already caused irreparable damage. They’ve ripped apart my family. But they haven’t, and won’t, destroy me.
The lies and fear-mongering are meant to dehumanize us, to make us invisible, to justify their cruelty. They paint us as a threat, a danger, something unnatural. They weaponize our existence, twisting it into a political football to score points with their base. But the truth is, we are simply people, living our lives, trying to find our place in the world.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. Throughout history, marginalized groups have been targeted, demonized, and subjected to horrific treatment. The current wave of anti-trans legislation and the hateful rhetoric surrounding it is a terrifying echo of historical atrocities. The same playbook used to oppress other groups is now being used against us. It’s a calculated campaign of dehumanization designed to justify discrimination and violence.
The impact of this hatred is devastating. It’s not just about bathroom bills or participation in sports; it’s about the erosion of basic human rights. It’s about the constant fear, the constant harassment, the pervasive feeling of being unsafe. It’s about the emotional toll of being othered, of being made to feel like a pariah in your own community, in your own home. The fact that so many people seem okay with making us feel like this is horrifying. And for many, it leads to family breakdown.
My own family is a casualty of this hateful climate. The conflict wasn’t simply a disagreement; it was driven by misinformation and fear, fueled by the constant barrage of negative media portrayals. My parents were caught in a crossfire of conflicting information and opinions, a whirlwind of fear-mongering and hateful rhetoric. The stress and anxiety of navigating this toxic climate tore my family apart. This isn’t an uncommon story. It’s a tragedy being repeated across the country.
But even as my family falls apart, I remain resolute. I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to be erased. My identity is not something that can be legislated away or demonized out of existence. I am transgender, and that is an undeniable part of who I am. My worth is not dictated by the opinions of hateful politicians or the lies of bigoted activists. My right to exist is not up for debate.
The fight for our rights will not be easy. The challenges we face are significant, and the opposition is powerful. But we are not alone. We have allies, and we have each other. We are a resilient community, and we will not be broken. We will not be silenced. We will continue to fight for our dignity, for our rights, for our lives.
And to those who seek to erase us: you will fail. You may try to create a hostile environment, to legislate us out of existence, to silence our voices. But we will persist. We will thrive. We will find our way to build strong communities and support systems that offer protection from your hate. We will find ways to show the world who we truly are, despite your attempts to distort our image.
The history of oppression teaches us that hatred eventually fades. The truth always prevails. While the fight is ongoing, we will emerge victorious from the darkness. And to the hateful and their sympathizers, know that your legacy will be one of failure, cowardice, and shame. Your attempts to erase trans people from history will only serve to solidify our place in it. We will never let your actions be forgotten. We will not be erased.