Earlier this month, Michael Knowles of the Daily Wire spoke of “eradicating transgenderism” at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. But what does that term mean, and why did his language greatly alarm so many trans people? I discuss the phrase and why both supporters of the trans community and proponents of liberty should be equally disturbed by his speech.
When juxtaposed with his overarching philosophy, his statement should perturb those who value the principles of tolerance and uphold the principles of limited government as it applies to government intrusion into individual identities. Moreover, it would require a degree of regression beyond the scope of the push for basic LGBTQ tolerance from several decades ago, let alone the acceptance earned in the past ten years. Such a regression would imply a society that has removed or withdrawn from all forms of social recognition, medical advancements, and institutional pathways that allow someone to transition and be what is regarded in modern culture as a transgender person.
Read more from me in the Washington Blade here.
Jordan Willow Evans 