The Heritage Foundation and similar groups wrongly believe that transgender people are inherently more likely to commit violence. Conservative conspiracy theorists deny the objective reality that transgender people make up less than one percent of mass shooters. When it was uncovered that Tyler Robinson is not transgender, and simply knows a transgender person, TIVE pivoted to argue that both transgender people and our allies are violent – ignoring the reality that non-allied cisgender men commit the vast majority of violent crime, and Charlie Kirk himself advocated violence against transgender people.
“They are cynically targeting trans people because the shooter’s lover was trans. The administration has convinced itself that the Charlie Kirk murder exposes some dark conspiracy.” – Anonymous US senior intelligence official to Ken Klippenstein
TIVE is proposed to be a subcategory of Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVE), a new domestic terrorism category created by the FBI early this year to replace Biden’s Anti-Authority and Anti-Government Violent Extremists (AGAAVE) – which was created to classify those who participated in the January 6th coup. In support of TIVE, The Heritage Foundation wrote, “TIVE is based on the belief that violence is justified against those who do not share radical views of transgender ideology. It has led to an increasing trend of TIVE domestic terrorist events across the country.”
Transgender advocates and human rights allies have criticized the proposal. Alejandra Caraballo, a Harvard law instructor and trans legal expert, wrote, “Heritage Foundation has released an absolutely insane policy proposal to label all trans people as domestic terrorists. It uses completely made-up instances of terrorism and made-up statistics but facts don’t matter to them.”
People are alarmed because this classification would give broad and overbearing authority for the FBI to target transgender people based on identity alone. Even though transgender identity is factually uncorrelated with violence, the United States government could use TIVE to monitor transgender people without the additional evidence traditionally required for such cases. Additionally, people are opposed to most of what The Heritage Foundation proposes due to their fundamental role in anti-equality proposals like Project 2025.
“The bottom line is that this is another example of escalating attacks targeting trans people,” said Cathy Renna of the National LGBTQ Task Force to The Advocate. “It’s another use of lies and misinformation to justify [the right’s] actions. I think this degree of targeting and surveillance and scapegoating is just continuing to erode our sense of safety in this country. And that’s a tremendous concern; that’s something we all need to be engaged in, speaking out about when what their goal is to silence us. But at the end of the day, those of us who can need to be speaking out as much and as loudly as we can.”
“If adopted by the FBI, that would brand a wide range of arguments common among progressive activists and writers as “extremist” rhetoric,” wrote The Independent. The Heritage Foundation gave a comprehensive list of terms “used by TIVEs” to help the FBI identify such individuals. These terms include “cisgender,” “deadnaming, and “misgendering,” amongst others. This logic is also entirely hypocritical: the GOP has actively verbalized its intent to “eradicate transgender people from public life,” advocating for government-sanctioned violence against an entire community of people based on identity alone.
On the other hand, this news should be taken with a grain of salt. The Heritage Foundation and related Oversight Project explicitly stated that not all transgender people or their allies should be treated as terrorists and “individuals are free to identify as transgender, or support… transgenderism in a non-violent way.” It’s also *just* a proposal – The Heritage Foundation’s presentation of it does not mean the Trump administration or FBI will approve it, similar to Trump’s previous consideration of removing all firearm access from transgender Americans.
In a jarring turn of events, Charlie Kirk is dead. Kirk was shot with a single bullet to the neck at 12:23 PM on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, while engaged in a Q&A at Utah Valley University. Between law enforcement’s delay in presenting evidence, misreporting by the Wall Street Journal, and propaganda-fueled bots, there is an immense amount of misinformation regarding Kirk’s assassination. Beyond the facts, do far-right individuals like Kirk deserve empathy, especially when their agendas actively promote violence against others?
Charlie Kirk, as an individual, was not a remarkable person. What did Kirk contribute to the world? Like his peers, Kirk provided nothing meaningful to society and actively worked to make the world a hateful place. But since so many people are persuaded by hate alone, Kirk rose as a prominent voice within MAGA.
On the 10th, Kirk was in the midst of a very mediocre rally. Like all conservative events, there was hardly any security – as Kirk himself said, “I think [gun casualties are] worth it. It’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect other God given rights. That’s a prudent deal. It is rational.”
A spectator in the crowd asked Kirk about recent comments Kirk had made that transgender people are more likely to commit mass violence than their cisgender peers. Just as that spectator began to point out the flaws in Kirk’s baseless lies, Kirk was shot by a sniper round from a nearby rooftop. The crowd started freaking out, and Utah Valley University’s campus went on lockdown. By 2:40 PM, Kirk had died from his injuries.
It wasn’t until September 12th that Kirk’s assumed assassin, Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody, coordinated by the FBI and local law enforcement. Everything after that gets… fuzzy.
Almost immediately, The Wall Street Journal reported on a bulletin released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regarding the bolt-action rifle and ammunition conveniently left in the woods after the shooting. Despite explicit guidance by the Bureau to read the bulletin with caution due to the lack of substantial evidence, the WSJ wrote that Robinson’s bullet casings had engravings of “expressions of transgender and antifascist ideology.” The WSJ has come under fire due to this journalistic negligence, being forced to amend the article when Utah Governor Cox publicly stated the casings made zero mention of “transgender ideology.” One of the casings does make mention of fascism, but more on that later.
Currently, mainstream media is hyperfixated on whether Tyler Robinson was an ANTIFA leftist. He wasn’t, and the media’s inability to understand that is part of the problem.
The reason mainstream media is so befuddled by Robinson is that the bullet casings, notes, and online presence he’s left look anti-fascist and left on the surface. Some of the bullet engravings included statements like:
*Notices bulges* OwO What’s this? (This is actually the bullet that shot and killed Kirk.)
Hey fascist! Catch this! ↑ → ↓ ↓ ↓ (Game maneuver used in Helldivers 2, a multiplayer shooter with its own problematic fanbase.)
Oh Bella, ciao, bella, ciao Bella ciao ciao ciao. (An Italian anti-fascist song that has been co-opted by the alt-right.)
If you read this, you are gay LMAO.
Traditional journalists who have reported thus far lack deep knowledge of the internet and its subcultures. Tyler Robinson was not a leftist, liberal, nor an ANTIFA. He was a groyper.
Groypers are most noted by their use of “ironic meme culture.” Pepe the Frog, toxic gaming culture, and using racial slurs for “comedic shock value” – groypers encapsulate everything terrible about middle school boys before they grow a conscience. At some point Robinson was a huge Nick Fuente fan. But groypers are conservative. They are exceedingly far right and use meme culture to disguise their values, similar to how the KKK did (they called their leaders “imperial wizards” and “exalted cyclops”). And groypers intentionally use anti-fascist and leftist slogans to confuse onlookers.
A select few media outlets are covering this reality, but it’s not the common story being told.
US Representative Nancy Mace immediately after reading the WSJ’s comments about Kirk’s killer allegedly being transgender.
And a few days later when Mace found out Robinson was, in fact, not transgender.
The long answer is that conservatives have created an empathy paradox. Conservatives condemn liberals, leftists, and anyone else who fails to offer heartfelt condolences to Kirk, but Kirk and his peers are empathy black holes. Kirk regularly advocated for violence against minorities, especially transgender people. Conservatives weaponize the ideas behind empathy to throw in our faces, trying to paint themselves as more humane, kind, and righteous than leftists. After all, if the left is supposed to embody human rights, social justice, and solidarity, isn’t it hypocritical for us to celebrate any human’s death?
Extending empathy for those who cause great harm to others is not a rational or ethical choice. Honestly, Republicans today make me think they would condemn a Jewish person in 1945 for celebrating the death of Adolf Hitler. Terrible people who deny the humanity of others do not deserve empathy.
As a general rule, American conservatives are unable to recognize their own hypocrisy. They aren’t able to look past their own noses – I currently work in social services, and the overwhelming majority of individuals I see are hard Trump followers and express disgust at welfare, minorities, or anything akin to a “handout.” They lack the capacity to realize they’re using welfare services that only exist because of liberals and leftists.
One answer for why conservatives act this way is their latest “empathy is a sin” ideology, which was pushed by JD Vance and Elon Musk. Everything about the Republican Party goes against human nature to be kind and contradicts the New Testament’s fundamental teachings by Jesus to be compassionate. They don’t want to be compassionate or Christians; American conservatives want to be Spanish Crusaders under the delusional guise of religion – they want blood, not God.
Equating leftist ideals (ex. universal healthcare, affordable housing, no hate crimes, etc.) to conservative ideals (ex. race-based detainment, death penalties, corporate tax cuts, etc.) is misleading. In a previous article, I wrote how “moderate” isn’t always better: not too long ago, one extreme advocated for race-based lynching while the other wanted integration, equal civil rights, and the capacity to live freely. Only one of those is humane.
There is a separate conversation about having grief for those around Kirk. Yes, he was a father, a son, a “someone” to people. The majority of unempathetic leftists lack empathy for Kirk directly, not his wife or children.
Conservatives like Charlie Kirk campaign for the deaths and torment of those unlike them. Kirk and his followers advocate for a world where gender-affirming care is entirely impossible and gender-diverse individuals are imprisoned or killed. A world where young girls are forced to carry the babies of their abusers, regardless of whether they can physically, emotionally, or financially survive. A world where queer people are stoned for expressing same-sex attraction. A world where the disabled are murdered for the simple act of living, a world where only “pure-blooded” white Americans live contentedly and undeveloped countries with people of color are left to be exploited. We are already expected to be civil with those who do us harm. We lack empathy for Charlie Kirk and those like him because his agenda lacks empathy for us.
Refusing to hold empathy for a powerful figure like Kirk is not cruelty; it’s a refusal to normalize his harm. Charlie Kirk was a terrible person and will be forgotten one day as the hateful person he was.
Do conservatives and the far right deserve empathy? People have the right to offer and withhold empathy, BUT expecting empathy for those who built careers on hatred and denying empathy to others is hypocritical and manipulative. Empathy is not a shield that protects oppressive ideologies from critique. Empathy centers on those most harmed, not those who caused harm.
Everyone has the capacity to appreciate socialist ideas, but you can’t call them socialist when introducing them. Americans have nearly a century of built-up feelings about communism, so you have to appeal to their ego when presenting these ideas. And when I say everyone, I really do mean everyone. Here are some of the best entry points to get regular folks interested in left-wing ideas.
Fundamentally, it all comes down to your approach. Leftists struggle to articulate their ideas to regular people, which is where all those stereotypes about theory-wielding college communists come from. Don’t use theory and the Communist Manifesto thinking it will appeal to today’s audience. If you want regular people to understand socialism, you have to talk to them in a way they can understand.
One of the most common arguments against increasing the minimum wage is that service employees (ex. fast food, retail) shouldn’t make a comparable wage to white collar workers. After all, aren’t these jobs meant to be entry-level, best suited for teenagers wanting pocket money?
There are a lot of fallacies with this argument – like in order for a white collar worker to go to McDonald’s on their lunch break, you can’t have high schoolers working and get fed. The retail and food service industry relies on 82% of adults ages 20 and older, and they’re necessary to keep the industry afloat. Even in the most rural regions in the United States, the minimum wage is not sustainable unless you’re working multiple jobs.
That being said, the most successful argument I’ve made regarding the minimum wage is by appealing to the white collar worker’s ego:
“Look, I’m not saying a fast food worker should make the same amount as you. It’s not the service employees’ fault that your boss is underpaying your work. That fast food worker should be paid more – but so should you. Your supervisor is the one holding your wage back on purpose.”
In reality, I believe service employees deserve better wages because the work isn’t easy. They’re tough jobs with high stress. As much as folks bellyache that fast food employees shouldn’t be paid better, they aren’t jumping at the chance for an “easier” job. But calling them a hypocrite won’t win them over.
Another argument you will likely get back is that companies require low wages in order to operate, and raising the minimum wage to be livable would only cause inflation to increase. That doesn’t have to be the case. If a company is only able to operate through unsustainable wages, they aren’t a successful business. That’s the point of capitalism – but corporations like Walmart and Dollar General come into rural areas and demolish local businesses and job diversity to create a surplus of underpaying minimum wage jobs.
Corporations don’t have to raise the price of products due to higher wages. They jump at every opportunity to increase prices because they maximize profits for their CEOs and shareholders. Corporations are fully able of shrinking their profits by just a fraction of a percent and pay their employees a decent wage, but they’ve bullied you into believing they can’t afford to.
The Big Bad Socialist Evil: Universal Healthcare
The public murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson brought this topic back into the spotlight. Depending on your age, you likely have strong opinions – younger folks are less sympathetic to Brian’s murder and more likely to look up to Luigi Mangione; older individuals find the issue more complicated since they’ll agree the American healthcare industry is out of control, but they don’t want to approve of Luigi or Brian’s murder.
Most Americans are aware of how unfair the inflated costs of healthcare and medicine in the United States are. The industry has been warped by insurance companies that force their way as the middlemen of healthcare. If you don’t have insurance coverage, you can easily pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for breaking a leg or needing surgery. You might still pay thousands for those same services even if you have insurance.
The industry thrives on the expectation that people will pay any price to keep themselves or those they love alive. A mother and father will go into debt because they need to pay for their young daughter’s cancer treatments. A young professional has to borrow money for treatment or never work again, falling deeper into poverty while still in pain. In the US, the healthcare insurance industry has put very visible price tags on life.
As long as you refrain from using phrases like “universal healthcare,” most Americans are supportive of the idea – they’re just scared of the term because it’s “socialist.” The US is the only first-world country that uses healthcare insurance. Brazil, China, South Korea, Canada, Algeria, Saudi Arabia – 69% of the world’s population has coverage from some program like universal healthcare. But US healthcare is hyper-focused on making a profit, not promoting good health – and that’s hard to take pride in. Our government spends billions each year on unnecessary things, but your grandmother has to worry about whether she can afford her diabetes medication. Your sister has to think about how expensive it is to give birth and raise a baby. Do you have money to throw away if you got into an accident and broke a leg? It doesn’t have to be that way because it’s not like that in any other developed country.
Gender-Affirming Care, Abortions, & Other “Scary Stuff”
At their core, these are some of the hardest topics to talk about. Compared to other ideas, these topics have the most religious weight to them because Republican politicians ally with religious evangelicals to push specific agendas.Ultimately, if someone is convinced based purely on religion, you will not be able to convince them. There is no magical argument or reason you apply to open their worldview quickly. For these folks, the only way to get them to become open-minded is to open their horizons.
Unfortunately, “opening their horizons” isn’t a quick fix. More than any other component, knowing someone directly affected by these policies changes conservative mindsets – even when religion is involved. Folks are quick to demonize illegal immigrants until they meet someone who entered legally, had their passport and papers stolen by an employer, and is being trafficked for farm work. They hate abortion until it’s their middle schooler who was sexually assaulted and is being forced to carry a fetus that might kill them during childbirth. They’ll despise transgender people until they meet a real person and realize they’re just as much of a human as they are.
Again, there is no winning argument here. The Republican Party stated that empathy is their enemy – and as exhausting as it is, it’s the best medicine for these issues. These are issues people argue based out of blind loyalty to religion and emotion, not logic or reason.
Green Energy
Environmental protections are a weird one – over the years, the GOP has taken a strong stance that global warming isn’t real. Most folks, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum, do understand that something is fundamentally wrong, even if they struggle with climate change.Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more dangerous. Where I live, there used to be at least a foot of snow by early December – but now, the grass is still green until mid-February. This isn’t normal.
Conservatives are well aware that their arguments lack factual evidence. They rely on moral panic to sway votes. When discussing the need for sustainable energy or greater environmental protection, refrain from using fact-based or logical arguments unless you’re certain they’re open-minded enough to base their opinion in reality. No amount of facts will change someone’s mind if their opinion is based on faith alone. Those folks aren’t hopeless, but they need time to come to their own conclusions.
Emphasize the importance of ensuring a better world for future generations. This idea is even in the Bible – humans are meant to be protectors of God’s creation, after all. They might not have to deal with all of the immediate consequences of climate change, but they can see it in motion. They can see how climate change will further spiral, that their inaction will create an inhospitable world, their future grandchild won’t be able to survive in.
On the other hand, I also recommend not letting environmental-based conspiracy theories fly. When someone argues that windmills kill hundreds of birds each year, cut them off and state the facts. If they argue that climate change is part of the natural cycle of Earth warming up and cooling off, don’t give them space. Yes, the Earth does have a sort of cycle, but the number of ecological changes you have seen in your lifetime alone is not natural.
Rehabilitation, Homelessness, and Social Services
Americans feel entitled to not see poverty in their communities.They get uncomfortable, anxious, and even afraid when they see homeless individuals – but they don’t help them.
Traditionally, religion should actually help here. In fact, it’s why JD Vance and the Pope don’t get along – American Christians are distinctly non-Christian when it comes to Jesus’s teachings about compassion and empathy. The Christian answer to homelessness and poverty should never be to imprison people for the crime of simply being homeless. Christians ought to favor greater funding for homeless shelters and social services to lift people out of poverty rather than larger police budgets or prisons.
Unlike other cultures, Americans don’t have a great sense of duty towards helping the poor. We’ve been hard-wired to perceive wealth as the result of one’s hard work, as well as view poverty as the result of one’s moral failing. If the mythical American Dream is possible, then only lazy folks are unable to pick themselves up by their bootstraps and achieve it, right? Because of this, it’s hard to persuade people into sensitive topics like defunding the police or the value of rehabilitation over punitive punishment.
If there’s a common theme with all of these topics, it’s that you have to find a middle ground to work from. Fundamentally, Americans aren’t inherently adverse to these concepts if you’re able to separate their pre-existing conceptions.
Wouldn’t it be nice if your community were able to utilize other services than the police? If there’s a large amount of theft in your neighborhood, wouldn’t services like food banks and employment opportunities have just as much of a positive impact as constantly patrolling police officers? If there are overdoses and substance abuse, wouldn’t it make sense to put more money into rehab and overdose prevention over policing them? If there’s a significant homeless population, isn’t it more logical to fund homeless shelters, public housing, and jobs rather than putting individuals in jail?
Police officers have as little as three months of training before being certified and put into the field; they aren’t necessarily required to have a lengthy education, and they aren’t well-trained on substance abuse, homelessness, suicide, or other crises. And greater police budgets haven’t equated to better police officers – the money goes towards larger guns, armored vehicles, and everything that doesn’t actually help your community.
When nations transition out of “developing” status, there is always a common thread that conservatives hate: They embrace some aspect of ‘socialism.’ Of course, international political scientists are quick to point out that these countries aren’t actually socialist, but that doesn’t change the stilted way American media represent them.
Through the Canada Health Act of 1984, all Canadian citizens and permanent residents have had access to universal public healthcare. ‘Universal healthcare‘ refers to countries where federal taxes are used to pay for healthcare services rather than requiring individuals to pay private insurance companies – it dates back to the late 1800s and is considered one of the most visible markers as to whether a country is doing well. On the global stage, any country that can afford to use tax revenue to offset healthcare must be doing okay compared to countries that utilize capitalism to bar healthcare services to only those who can pay premiums.
As of 2024, the average life expectancy is 79.5 years, which is more comparable with countries like Cuba (78.3), Saudi Arabia (79.0), and Panama (79.8) rather than ‘similar’ global powers like Japan (84.4), Germany (81.5), Canada (82.7), and Australia (84.1).
In the United States, it is extremely difficult to obtain unemployment funds. Our program is intentionally designed to help as few people as possible. To qualify, you have to prove you’ve lost your previous job through no fault of your own (meaning you weren’t fired and you didn’t quit on your own) and must regularly prove you are applying for new work at the risk of being audited and forced to pay unemployment funds back. The US’s strict definition of “unemployment” is purposely misleading.
This system promotes individuals to work all the time. Labor rights are weighted for corporations and supervisors – employees who reside in at-will states can be fired at any moment, resulting in them being out of work and unable to pay bills while still not qualifying for unemployment because their job loss was “their fault.” This isn’t a system that moves people out of poverty; it incentivizes it.
In 1971, 61% of adults were classified as middle class, whereas just 50% of American adults met that criteria in 2021. The median income for the middle class has also declined over the past half-century – which affirms the fact that the US isn’t built to uplift citizens and the American Dream is a fantasy.
When compared to the rest of the world, why is the United States so unwilling to continue moving forward? It’s a fundamental question that both Republicans and Democrats fail to answer. Corporate profit has kept the US from moving economically forward for the last 50 years. Why are American workers so resistant to rebelling?
The explanation is two-fold. America’s anti-commie can be traced to the Red Scare when senators like Joseph McCarthy used moral panic to accelerate Americans’ anxieties over the rise of left-wing ideologies in the 1940s and 1950s. McCarthy and the right cemented the underlying belief that to be American, one must be against left-wing ideologies like communism; to favor systems like communism and socialism is to be un-American. McCarthyism was a hard time that led to civil liberties being squashed in the name of patriotism and national security.
By the 1980s, there was a massive media push to convince Americans that their wealth was the byproduct of pure hard work and good moral character. Propaganda was produced to persuade workers that anyone can become unfathomably wealthy with enough work ethic, obscuring the reality that nepotism, family status, luck, and other uncontrollable factors play parts in our life stories. The ultra-wealthy are of an inherently better moral character because they “worked” for their money; the best route to financial success is not through labor laws that restrict corporate wealth but by licking the boots of one’s supervisors in hopes you will be rewarded. Once one generation had taken the bait set by corporations who bribed Congress and Reagan with lobbying, the rest was history.
Beyond the United States, these “leftist” institutions, like universal healthcare and affordable college, aren’t socialism. They’re common sense. While most British citizens will moan at the imperfect nature of the NHS, they’ll also be quick to point out that universal healthcare is a fundamental right to them. Japan isn’t any less capitalist because it enforces a livable minimum wage. Germans are more likely to believe programs like Bürgergeld are a right paid for by working citizens rather than extreme leftism – and they’d probably be offended if you insinuated they were communist. These welfare programs are moderate, centrist. They aren’t “socialist” to anyone outside of the United States.
Fundamentally, the second aspect of America’s issues is the Overton Window. It’s a large reason why the US is so different from its peers. The theory suggests that regular folks find moderate ideas reasonable based on the furthest left and right extremes. The realm of reasonable ideas is the “Overton Window,” where politicians can easily advocate for policies without worrying about major pushback. Yet the Window isn’t static; it moves because society changes.
Take an issue like the Israel-Palestine conflict. One side of the spectrum pledges full support to Israel (the US right), the other side pledges support to Palestine (the US left). The “reasonable” in-between is to either support both or neither (Democrats). Or, consider the status of marijuana in the United States – one side advocates for harsher prison sentencing and criminalization, while the other argues for recreational legalization. The moderate approach falls somewhere between decriminalization and age restrictions.
The issue with the Overton Window is that moderate isn’t always better, especially regarding civil rights. Going back to the 1960s, one side argued for the enslavement and dehumanization of all people of color, while the other advocated for equal rights. The moderate solution between the KKK and equality was segregation. When human rights are at the focus, moderate solutions are never reasonable or humane. Both sides of the political spectrum play a metaphorical tug-of-war with the Overton Window. For equal civil rights for Black Americans to be the reasonable solution, people had to keep pushing against the window. But then, Donald Trump entered the political stage.
Trump doesn’t play by the rules; he plays by what suits him best. Trump has normalized far-right ideas throughout his presidential campaigns, both directly through comments like demeaning Latino Americans and transgender people, as well as indirectly by giving a voice to extremists like Elon Musk’s Nazi salute. He’s quick to call everything he despises socialist to stir up American anxieties, and he’s just as quick to fume when opposition calls him a fascist or neonazi.
And this time around, Democrats are trying to play moderates rather than rebel against Trump’s status quo – but that led to their failure in 2024 because they failed to appeal to the working class of real moderates.
America is nearing its one-year anniversary of the 2024 presidential elections, which means midterms are a popular topic. The current political climate can feel tough, like every single day is a challenge to survive – but it can feel more doable when breaking up Trump’s second presidential term. We are now exiting the grace period that accompanied his return to office, and we are returning to a political reality that offers hope. This is also the time when potential presidential candidates begin making moves, giving us insight into what 2028 will bring.
In normal presidential cycles, presidents are judged greatly based on what they accomplish within their first 100 days of office. All presidents make huge moves in this period – more than they will throughout the rest of their term. After that, presidents traditionally make very little progress on their campaign promises until they reach their second consecutive term. Political historians point to the second consecutive term as a major milestone since that is the minimum amount of time presidents need to see policy and economic change, since most of these aspects are slow-changing. It’s widely agreed that Trump inherited Obama’s economy for the entirety of his first presidency, Trump constantly misattributing his own influence on the growing economy that he eventually ruined and handed off to Biden.
The first 100 days of office bring the most changes. Trump dismissed the notion as being a milestone when he entered his second term (likely because he failed to make his second term consecutive), but it’s easy to see the change in pacing between today and March. Those early months were accompanied by a barrage of executive orders, proclamations, and press releases from the administration. Today, we’re seeing remarkably fewer policy changes as Trump tries to manage foreign affairs with Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine while avoiding the growing Epstein problem at home.
Trump just finished his 200th day in office this past week. This November brings minor elections to the ballot – like mayoral elections, city councils, and county boards. November also marks the midterm campaign season since every seat in the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate will be on the ballot in 2026. Midterms present the opportunity for Republicans to continue their reign of oppression and terror or for Democrats to re-seize the legislature, barring Trump from any significant advancements. Trump’s self-proclaimed Red Wave was a midterm failure in 2022 when the GOP failed to turn the Democrat-controlled Congress over. Since elections take more than one day to campaign over, politicians begin hitting the trails and speaking at events around now in preparation for midterms.
Despite the next presidential election being three years away, this is the period when political scientists start predicting who will toss their name in the ring for the presidency. Unlike other electoral races, there are no official deadlines for official campaign submissions – but it is generally agreed that officially running as soon as possible boosts your chances of securing votes since it cements your presence. The following is a list of high-profile individuals being watched right now because they’re performing many of the hallmark moves presidential candidates do before officially campaigning for the presidency.
First: An Author’s Note
Candidates running with the GOP have several disadvantages compared to Democrats and third-party candidates. First, they absolutely do not want to upset Donald Trump.
This hinders GOP presidential candidates since publicly campaigning while Trump is still in office would cause an upset.Trump finally stated he believes JD Vance should be the next GOP candidate – but Vance and all other potentials haven’t come forward since doing so would take away from Trump’s glorious spotlight.
He was originally elected as an outsider, a businessman in a world of politicians who promised to bring the economy back in line. Of course, Donald Trump is more of a career con man than a successful business owner, and he’s no longer an outsider to politics.
Historical Context: The 22nd Amendment was created in the 1950s as a direct result of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms. While nearly all presidents before FDR had followed George Washington’s two-term policy, it wasn’t an official rule. Congress created the 22nd Amendment in 1951, shortly after FDR’s death, since even though the public loved FDR enough to legitimately vote him into office four times, an extensive reign felt too similar to monarchies and dictatorships, holding the potential for presidential power to become too concentrated in one administration.
Can Donald Trump legally and legitimately serve a third presidential term? No. The only way for Trump to legitimately serve a third term would require Congress to propose, pass, and ratify a new amendment to the Constitution – and the US House and Senate are far too polarized to accomplish any amendment, much less one in direct service to Trump.
Do Republicans want to pass a new amendment to allow Trump to serve continuously? Yeah. It’s somewhere on their list of ways to lick Trump’s boots, BUT there is zero chance for this to become reality since the GOP lacks the votes to force amendment-level changes… for now.
Political scientists theorize two other ways Donald Trump could serve a third term, but neither is legitimate. One is undeniably worse, but both spell a devastating end to democracy in the United States.
The “less bad” route would require a candidate aligned with Trump (which is most, although not all, of the GOP) to be elected officially as president. The 22nd Amendment bars Trump from ever serving again as president – but it doesn’t prevent him from being Vice President or holding other roles in the White House.
In this instance, Trump would serve unofficially through a puppet, which we have already seen as possible through Elon Musk’s short reign, using Trump as a puppet to serve in the Oval Office until their public breakup. Trump has already vocalized he’d like to explore this route with someone like JD Vance as the presidential candidate, but most GOP candidates would most likely allow Trump to rule through them to appeal to their frenzied base. The other side of this route is that Trump is an egomaniac and a reality television star at his core. This route requires Trump to share the spotlight with the official president – which might work for weak-willed and mild candidates like Vance, but is capable of blowing up with strong personalities like Musk.
Donald Trump appearing on the cover of TIME for 2024.
And Elon Musk appearing mere months later for blatantly using Trump as a puppet.
This route is “less bad” because it’s technically legal. The Constitution only states Trump can’t serve again as president, but there are no restrictions on other roles he can serve in. However, it still labels America as no longer a democracy to the greater world – even if Trump shared the spotlight and kept to a reserved role, having a puppet president serving on Trump’s behalf looks like a dictatorship.
The AI picture of Trump wearing a crown title “Long Live the King” on official White House social media.
The other route that leads to an extended Trump regime would entail Trump using military force to hold the presidency hostage. There are protocols that require the previous president to leave office once a new one has been elected and sworn in – but how could that be enforced if Trump refuses to comply? Trump is already doing many of the same actions traditional dictators do, like getting rid of military personnel who aren’t fully loyal to him. The president controls the military, and Trump hasn’t thrown out the idea of using the US military to protect his position if voted out.
A military coup by Trump is the “worst” option since doing so will label the United States as a dictatorship in black-and-white. And while dictatorships are never forever, they can hold power for extensive periods of time and cause insurmountable damage.
JD Vance
Officially, Vance hasn’t said whether he will be running for president in 2028. That being said, it’s assumed he will: Vance is currently Donald Trump’s favorite, and Trump has given Vance his endorsement to be the GOP runner. Despite this, Vance has told the media it is “way too early” to consider a 2028 bid – likely out of fear that openly accepting the endorsement or affirming the rumors would come across as lacking devotion to Trump.
With Trump’s endorsement and his current position as Vice President, Vance is poised to become heir to the MAGA movement. Trump has stated he believes Vance should fill his shoes, but it’s worth remembering that Trump’s favor is volatile since just a few months ago, Elon Musk would have had Trump’s endorsement as the next president.
Note: Elon Musk is NOT on this list. He cannot serve as President, no matter how badly he wants to. While Elon is technically a US citizen, only US-born citizens are eligible to run. Due to Elon being naturalized and originally from South Africa, he is barred from becoming president beyond befriending a legitimate president to use as a puppet.
The attention from Trump giving Vance his stamp of approval has been great for Vance’s image. Out of all the predicted 2028 candidates, Vance is polling the highest. But those numbers don’t equate to anything meaningful yet – in contrast to the Democrats, Vance is really the only projected candidate. He has had the most media attention from the last election cycle, putting him in a better position than other GOP candidates. On the other end of the political spectrum, Democrats won’t have comparable candidates until we approach the election season and candidates are in the thick of their campaigning. Vance is getting widespread attention at Trump’s side, speaking at events and ensuring he stays relevant. Democrats and other GOP candidates won’t be given this exposure for at least another year (if not longer).
However, JD Vance has downsides the GOP will have to consider if they choose to make him their 2028 candidate. Trump picked Vance as his VP because he was timid, mild-mannered, and able to sit in his shadow as a yes-man when Pence failed to do so during the January 6th coup. Even now, Vance fails to make good impressions amongst the public – he’s been clowned on for his looks, values, and politics ever since he was named for the VP ticket. He won’t be able to handle the MAGA movement’s need for a strong personality, and he won’t be able to fill Trump’s shoes. At his core, Vance isn’t likable. He isn’t someone people want to root for, he’s too timid to express his actual platform, and he somehow comes across as faker than Trump. Without Trump in front of him, Vance will not be able to keep the GOP together. He isn’t a leader.
Ron DeSantis
The Florida Governor, most known for his “Don’t Say Gay” anti-LGBTQIA+ laws, was forced to drop out of the 2024 election when Trump picked Vance to be his VP. There was never any public gossip on what happened between Trump and DeSantis, but DeSantis didn’t take well to being turned down for Vance.
After dropping out of the 2024 race, DeSantis made moves signaling his desire to run again, speaking at conventions and events to remain in the public eye even if he’s overshadowed by Vance’s office. Compared to other GOP candidates, DeSantis is the most outwardly anti-LGBTQIA+ and uses his forced successes of conservative legislation in a gerrymandered Florida as evidence that homophobia is in. The GOP has put tons of money into anti-transgender propaganda – but the American public still doesn’t agree with DeSantis’ core policies. His other “grand” policies are all related to banning abortion, but polls clearly show that isn’t popular with American voters either.
If he relies on his current policies to act as his primary motivator for voters, he has no chance of winning the presidency. When DeSantis got sidelined by Trump for Vance, his political career was considered over – even if he goes down fighting.
Nikki Haley
She was the only other major Republican candidate that survived the Iowa caucuses alongside Trump in 2024. In 2017, Haley left her office as South Carolina Governor to serve as the US Ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s first term. As an Indian American, she ruffled feathers and became the GOP’s first female presidential candidate to win a primary – although she was forced to drop out after losing nearly all of the Super Tuesday contests to Trump.
Haley encompasses the traditional GOP, which is why she performed better in 2024 than Vivek Ramaswamy. She’s more white-passing, and she identifies as Christian despite her immigrant parents’ Sikh upbringing. She positions herself as a Reagan-aligned conservative in a political climate filled with Trump yes-men.
But can Nikki Haley win the 2028 presidency? While possible, it’s unlikely. She doesn’t have Trump’s endorsement like Vance, and she’s even more removed from current politicians than DeSantis since she hasn’t held any official offices since she resigned as ambassador in 2018.
Glenn Youngkin
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is both a longtime member of the GOP and a businessman. He’s garnered attention from the media due to headlining in Iowa last month, which is the traditional launch point for presidential campaigns. Candidates measure their audiences and begin campaigns in Iowa due to its caucuses.
Youngkin’s term as governor has focused on Trump’s war on DEI, causing Youngkin to spend considerable effort purging “divisive concepts” from both K-12 classrooms and higher education. He is allied with the GOP’s insiders, like the Heritage Foundation (and co-writers of Project 2025).
Unlike many other Republican candidates, Youngkin lacks baggage. He doesn’t have Vance, DeSantis, or even Haley’s exposure, so Youngkin can better position himself as a new face amongst many others who are running after failed campaigns for the presidency. Of course, that lack of exposure also harms Youngkin since voters may pass him for well-known names or candidates whose platforms they know well.
Tucker Carlson
Most known for the Tucker Carlson Show, Carlson has been described as “the most influential voice in right-wing media, without a close second.” He has touted Trumpism for years, pushing white grievance politics on Fox News while feeding manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate and Joe Rogan scraps to publish. Like Trump, Carlson is a face the American public knows well – and he’s never even entered politics.
In 2023, Carlson came under fire when his text messages leaked during Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network that led to a $787 million settlement. In the messages, Carlson shows his true colors as an entertainer first and not a true Trump supporter. In regard to what he thought of Trump’s first term, Carlson wrote, “We’re all pretending we’ve got a lot to show for it, because admitting what a disaster it’s been is too tough to digest. But come on. There really isn’t an upside to Trump.” He’s an entertainment journalist that Fox viewers take too seriously – which is what led to the eventual lawsuit that Fox settled and fired Carlson over. Carlson knew the stories he told on air were false, purposely riling up misinformed viewers based around Trump’s far-right agenda because it sold. He lamented in leaked texts how much he despised Trump despite publicly endorsing him on Fox – Fox News thrives on grifting, and Trump is the best grifter in modern history. In other words, Trump forced an unofficial marriage between his legacy and Fox News. When news on Trump sells so well, Carlson had no choice but to devote his nightly coverage to Trump.
Could Carlson grab the presidency? Since his removal from Fox News, Carlson has attempted to relaunch his show on Twitter/X and managed to rework his weekly commentary podcast – and he’s used the space to fester the same conspiracy stories as Alex Jones, interviewing “amateur historians” to endorse Holocaust denial on air. Compared to other candidates, Carlson has a strong personality that MAGA devotees obsess over, which is why his show on Fox News did so well. If Trump gives up his throne, Carlson is perhaps the closest fit.
Despite this, Carlson will face challenges. If he decides to campaign for 2028, he will most definitely butt heads with Trump and traditionalists within the GOP. Trump has already named Vance as his successor, and there’s no way for Trump to rule from behind Carlson like he would Vance. And while Carlson may be able to dish out conspiracy theories and insults great on air, he’s not Trump.
Tim Scott
Before entering politics in 1995, Scott worked in financial services – but he was given the spotlight when then-Governor Nikki Haley appointed Scott as South Carolina’s senator after Jim DeMint’s resignation. He had a short campaign for the 2024 presidency, but dropped out due to exceptionally low polling numbers.
In 2019, Tim Scott signaled that he plans to retire from politics soon since he’s tired of Congress, stating that his 2022 election was his final campaign. Since Senators serve six-year terms, his seat won’t be available for reelection until 2029. That doesn’t mean Scott won’t consider running in 2028 – he has the option to vacate his seat if he were to win the presidency, similar to Barack Obama vacating Illinois’ Senate seat in 2008. Overall, though, a second presidential campaign wouldn’t work in Scott’s favor since he wouldn’t be bringing anything new despite facing many of the same opponents.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Elon Musk might not be able to run for president, but Vivek Ramaswamy can. He’s been compared to Musk due to being a biotech pharma CEO and writing a flurry of books like Woke Inc, Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence, Capitalist Punishment, and Truths: The Future of America First.
Similar to Nikki Haley, Ramaswamy is an American-born son of Indian immigrants. He touts himself as an American nationalist, BUT unlike Haley, he still identifies as non-Christian and adheres to his family’s Hindu faith. Some political scientists theorize Ramaswamy’s failed 2024 campaign was due to his populist ideals being too similar to Trump’s, failing to offer anything new like Haley did as a GOP traditionalist. Others argue Ramaswamy lost followers due to being less digestible for the American public as a darker-skinned Indian American man. Had he succeeded in 2024, Ramaswamy could have been the United States’ first non-Christian president.
Like DeSantis, Marco Rubio originally came from Florida as a Senator until he was picked by Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of State. Rubio has campaigned for the presidency since 2016, when he originally lost to Trump during the Republican primaries. As a Cuban American, Rubio was described by many as an unofficial secretary of state for Latin Americans during Trump’s first term – although his support amongst Latino Americans will waver under continued attacks by ICE.
Marco Rubio is the alternative heir to the MAGA movement. Trump is keeping Rubio close like Vance, purposely pitting them against each other to compete for his endorsement. According to White House insiders quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Trump told both Rubio and Vance, “Which one of you is going to be at the top of the ticket? I used to think it would be Vance-Rubio, but maybe it will be Rubio-Vance.”
Currently, Rubio isn’t polling as well as Vance – Trump recently stated he approved of Vance running in 2028, putting Rubio in the backseat. However, both Vance and Rubio have more of Trump’s support than folks like DeSantis. Rubio has a better grasp on foreign affairs, but he doesn’t have a remarkably better personality than Vance. These qualities were exemplified during the 2016 election, which Donald Trump brought to the public’s attention when he barraged Rubio with insults like all his other competitors on stage.
Abbott has served as Texas Governor since 2015, making him the longest-serving incumbent governor in the United States. He’s more of a traditional conservative, focused mostly on immigration issues, followed by law enforcement budgets, gun laws, and abortion access. In a state that is progressively becoming less conservative, Abbott has tried to remain in the background compared to louder names like Ted Cruz. Unlike other candidates on this list, Abbott hasn’t actually tried to run for the presidency, which is why he would be a natural fit to try in 2028.
Last week, I posted about five of the most common myths spread about transgender people. Misinformation sells – media has always benefited from spreading fake news, but current politics have heightened its spread. Here’s five more common myths spread about transgender people.
Myth #6: Transgender women are a threat to women’s spaces.
That’s a broad generalization that isn’t backed by any research. Transgender women are no more a threat to women than cisgender lesbians “threaten” fragile heterosexuality. Due to stereotypes and stigma, most transgender women already enter spaces rather timidly because they don’t want to push that narrative. Women’s bathrooms? Transgender women are just there to do their business and be on their way like any other woman. Domestic and sexual violence shelters? Maybe it sounds unbelievable, but transgender women are actually harassed more often than their cisgender counterparts – and they’re just looking for safe resources when at those centers.
At its core, this myth relies on the belief that transgender women are predators. Homophobes have labeled LGBTQIA+ people as dangerous for decades despite more accurate allegations against stereotypically conservative professions like law enforcement and religious officials. The myth centers transgender women as inherently masculine, often taking it a step further to imply that masculinity is always dangerous and transgender women are unable to lose this status due to being assigned male at birth. It also works on the flip side, since individuals who advocate for this myth don’t view transgender men as threats – due to being assigned female at birth, transgender men are unable to hold the same predatory status and are therefore welcomed in women’s spaces. It asserts that biological sex and mythical masculine-born energy dictate one’s ability to harm others.
Two comics from Assigned Male on the topic, by Sophie Labelle
Myth #7: All gender-affirming care is medical. All transgender people seek surgery, and children are being pushed into getting serious operations.
“Gender-affirming care” refers to any service that benefits transgender people, especially if that service helps to affirm our chosen gender identity. Medical services like hormone replacement therapy and surgery are classified as such, but so do non-medical services like binders, gaffs, haircuts, clothing style, pronouns, names, etc. There is not a single transgender person out there who engages with medical gender-affirming care before being well-acquainted with non-medical services. Before the normalization of informed consent, it was legally required to socially transition to access HRT – but it is still required for some transgender Americans who have insurance coverage that dictates letter approval as a prerequisite for HRT. Beyond HRT, individuals have to prove they’ve been on HRT for several years in addition to being socially transitioned to have surgical procedures, and many states require certain surgeries, usage of HRT, or documentation to allow transgender folks to legally change their gender documents.
Many transgender people do seek surgical procedures (often referred to as top or bottom surgery), but there is no single “one-size-fits-all” surgery for us. Not all transgender people can undergo or afford surgery, especially if they are disabled, live in a hostile or rural area, or have medical coverage that purposely doesn’t include transgender care. Lastly, not all transgender people want surgery, and that doesn’t make them less transgender. Anyone who identifies as a gender identity other than the one assigned to them at birth qualifies as transgender, but the label does not require folks to feel a certain way about their body. Most often, transgender people forgo bottom/genital surgeries since they have high complication rates and can have less-than-satisfactory results. And as mentioned above, it takes a lot of work to access these surgeries compared to other aspects of gender-affirming care.
Regarding any stories on minors being pushed into serious transgender procedures, I would kindly ask you to reconsider the validity of their publishers. It is already difficult enough for transgender adults to access surgeries or for transgender minors to be prescribed puberty blockers. The possibility of a transgender minor accessing surgery before age 18 is nearly zero. Minors have numerous barriers to gender-affirming care in addition to the ones transgender adults face – even the international WPATH guidelines require minors to have multiple healthcare providers recommend services. The only trans-related surgery minors can have feasible access to is transmasculine top surgery, since any other procedure would be paused until the individual turns 18. And I say feasible because transgender minors cannot reliably access top surgery since it’s extremely barred.
Myth #8: Transgender people are mentally ill.
In my previous post, I wrote about how cisgender people struggle to understand transgender experiences. Since they have never had to think critically about their relationship with either gender identity or sexuality, cisgender people come to the assumption that rebelling against their natural worldview means transgender people must hate their bodies, since anything else wouldn’t make sense. This assumption fueled and twisted research on transgender identity for decades – and it accompanied many other problematic ideas.
For reference, during these early years, you would also be labeled as mentally ill if you were a woman who cried too much, refused to be a servant to her husband, or stood firm that women ought to be equal to men. Queer individuals were also considered mentally ill, as were anyone else that failed to conform. Calling transgender people mentally ill purely based on their identity is as faulty as saying women still experience hysteria because they’re unwed.
Today, it’s a bit complicated: transgender identity itself was internationally removed as a mental illness in 2018 via the World Health Organization, and the current psychiatric diagnosis is gender dysphoria. The disconnect between one’s biological sex and internal gender identity is the only part of transgender identity classified as a mental illness today. There’s still stigma with that association, but mental illness does not hold any inherent goodness or badness to it. Before the classification change, transgender identity itself was labeled as illness, whereas today only the distress experienced from being misgendered, unaffirmed, and otherwise not respected as ourselves is classified as illness, and that distress can be a lot.
By making that move, the World Health Organization, American Psychiatric Association, and DSM also links gender-affirming care as a cure for gender dysphoria as a mental disorder: it has been well-documented that gender-affirming care eliminates gender dysphoria, and such care is internationally recommended as the best practice for transgender patients. Once a transgender person is affirmed as their gender, they generally experience little distress due to their sex assigned at birth – and that lack of distress qualifies as a lack of illness.
There is one more reason why gender dysphoria is still classified as a mental illness, and it essentially boils down to capitalism. Due to the American health insurance industry, individuals must have a diagnosis that qualifies care as “medically necessary” for companies to cover services. Without any diagnosis, American corporations would be quick to deny transgender Americans access to gender-affirming care unless they were willing to pay out-of-pocket, which is why WHO, the APA, and the DSM left gender dysphoria in the DSM rather than removing it entirely. However, it is predicted this might change – the field of psychology is leaning into classifying gender dysphoria as a medical condition rather than a psychiatric one, similar to how obesity was classified as predominantly a medical issue. This would remove some of the leftover stigma of being a “mental disorder” and allow transgender individuals to continue accessing gender-affirming care via health insurance coverage, since it would be diagnosed by a medical professional. The only potential issue with this route is that few medical professionals are adequately trained on transgender issues, similar to their lack of training on mental health as a whole. Unless folks live in a region with plentiful trans-friendly and knowledgeable providers, they may be further limited since doctors are generally unwilling to diagnose if they feel unconfident.
Myth #9: There are only two genders/sexes.
Gender is real, but it’s still a social construct. Social constructs are ideas that affect us as humans because of their perceived importance, but have little to no impact naturally.
The two comparisons I commonly use as alternative social constructs are money and race, since they are, in fact, social constructs. Without money, you wouldn’t be able to convince someone to build you housing or be paid for work, so money is real, but it doesn’t have any natural value since you’re not going to commonly find wild animals trading currency. Race matters because it identifies groups of people with each other (for better and worse), but it doesn’t have any natural meaning since, again, you’re not going to find animals identifying based on fur patterns, skin textures, or any other feature.
Gender roles, expression, and identity are all socially real but lack actual natural value. Western society traditionally emphasizes two genders, but that’s just one among thousands that have existed across human history. Other societies have held three or more genders for centuries, and western society is rapidly moving to a three gender system as nonbinary identities become socially accepted and legally recognized.
Stating there are only two sexes is more accurate than claiming there are only two genders, but it’s still not fully true. Frankly, it’s over simplistic: sex is complicated, which is why we’re taught there are two sexes while early in our educational journeys, but that view expands if you continue to learn about biology. Biological sex is composed of chromosomes, gonads, hormone levels, internal genitalia, external genitalia, and a mess of “secondary sex characteristics” like body hair distribution, breast tissue, vocal pitch, body fat, bone structure, muscle mass, etc. Most people align with one end of the sex spectrum, but intersex people can be born anywhere along it – and there are countless ways intersex conditions are expressed, meaning there are vastly more than just two sexes if you account for each possible intersex condition.
Myth #10: All transgender people are a little gay, and it’s at least a little bit gay to be attracted to a transgender person.
Statistically, transgender people are more likely to identify as queer compared to cisgender people – but that’s more attributed to the fact transgender people have already critically thought about their relationship with gender, so they’ve very likely thought about their sexuality. While cisgender heterosexual people hate to consider it, most people float somewhere along the straight-gay binary – but unless they have taken the time to reflect on their sexuality, few identify as queer when it is more convenient to be straight.
The other half of this myth is a lot to get into. Attraction is complicated, and sexual anatomy matters in some relationships – but I’ve always been of the opinion that gender and identity labels need to matter more. If you are a woman dating a transgender man, you are in a straight relationship; you can be bisexual and date him, but you’re not in a lesbian relationship. Stating otherwise demeans that partner of his gender for your own comfort – and people being obsessed with the comfort of previous sexuality labels is the most common I’ve come across. Hearing your partner call themselves a lesbian while they’re dating you as a man hurts, even if they don’t think it’s harmful, since it devalues your gender. A cisgender man dating a transgender man is a gay relationship, and it’s messed up how many times I’ve come across men who say transgender people are the nice little stepping stone between being gay and straight.
A cisgender woman dating a transgender woman is a lesbian relationship, and a cisgender man dating a transgender woman is a straight one. Doing mental gymnastics with this to defend your sexuality puts transgender people in danger – it is predominantly transgender women who are assaulted and murdered because straight men cannot bear being thought of as gay after being with a transgender woman, leveraging trans panic when brought to court – although it does happen the other way around, such as in the murder of Brandon Teena.
On one hand, labels shouldn’t have to matter that much – it’s why so many people just refer to themselves as queer since it avoids getting into a whole mess of other labels. But if your identity as a lesbian, gay man, or straight person matters that dearly to you, realize that our gender identity matters just as much to us as transgender people.
The current fascist movement can be traced before the 2024 election – far-right and authoritarian politics have been growing in United States politics for decades. Some trace recent events to President Ronald Reagan due to his administration’s dismantling of government programs in favor of creating a more ‘free market,’ since it is predominantly the ultra-wealthy that are moving into politics via fascist ideas to grow their wealth further.
At its core, fascism seeks to consolidate power into the hands of a few select individuals and undermine the public’s ability to impact politics. Movements may have different ideologies – some favor nationalism, others use racism and populism to convince the general public that they are the right choice to hand power to. Historical fascism is defined by leaders of World War II, such as the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Axis powers. At the same time, newer influences are referred to as neo-fascists – but it’s all the same brand: a far-right political movement characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forced suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, and subordination of individuals for the ‘good’ of the nation or race.
Words like fascism and neo-Nazis have a lot of weight – the majority of Americans have rolled their eyes when individuals like Trump are called fascists, chalking it up to polarizing politics. Due to the virtual echo chambers monetized by social media algorithms, the American public is unaware of the real dangers Trump and The Heritage Foundation’sProject 2025 pose to democracy. Like other nations that have succumbed to fascism, Americans are naturally more concerned with their own survival – we are more worried about affording groceries and job security, similar to the Germans who were radicalized while suffering from economic collapse and hyperinflation post-World War I. On top of this, Americans lack fundamental media literacy skills regardless of age – which is why fake news and misinformation spread so rapidly. Major American social media sites are incentivized by fascism and misinformation since it leads to higher engagement, even if it harms democracy and the general public.
With that in mind, it’s not easy to learn about anti-fascism. The United States has been purposely built for the past several decades to make it difficult, jarring, and taxing. Works like The Communist Manifesto are dense reads – and we all have negative stereotypes about leftists obsessed with reading too much theory. The following is introductory material for Americans curious about what fascism is, how it applies to current events, and advice on how to become empowered enough to prevent the destruction of American democracy.
Nineteen Eighty-Four / 1984 by George Orwell
Probably one of the most talked about books right now – Orwell wrote both 1984 and Animal Farm, which became classics taught in nearly every American high school. His literature even created the term ‘Orwellian,’ referencing brutal situations that destroy free societies through propaganda, surveillance, disinformation, truth denial, and other repressive means as described in his novels.
If you haven’t read 1984, do so. Like the other fiction books I’ll recommend, a book not being nonfiction doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable. Through this book, Orwell invented concepts still discussed today – like Big Brother, Thought Police, and doublethink. It was published in 1949 and explored a future where fascist totalitarianism took control of previously free societies like the United Kingdom.
Bradbury’s dystopian novel is commonly banned or censored due to its themes (including in the United States) – which is ironic, considering Fahrenheit 451 centers on literary censorship. Published a few years after Orwell’s 1984, Fahrenheit 451 imagines a future American society where books have been banned entirely – ‘firemen’ are employed to burn books similar to the real book burnings done by Nazi Germany.
In his personal life, Bradbury had mixed politics – in his younger days, he was a strong Democrat but eventually became a stereotypical Republican staunchly against affirmative action and political correctness, which he said was an allegory for censorship within Fahrenheit 451. Ironically, Bradbury was a white man of substantial financial means who became the exact type of antagonist his main character in Fahrenheit 451 fought against – and it’s worth wondering what Bradbury would have said if he were still alive in Trump’s war on democracy, considering he deemed the American left villains despite Fahrenheit 451 and American book censorship during his lifetime was perpetrated by conservatives like today.
Fahrenheit 451 is still valuable and a necessary read when learning about anti-fascism – while Bradbury’s politics further warped after its publication, it is still important to connect his personal ideology when reading the novel. He wrote in 1979, “Every minority, be it Baptist/Unitarian, Irish/Italian/Octogenarian/Zen Buddhist, Zionist/Seventh-day Adventist, Women’s Lib/Republican, Mattachine/Four Square Gospel feels it has the will, the right, the duty to douse the kerosene, light the fuse… Fire-Captain Beatty, in my novel Fahrenheit 451, described how the books were burned first by minorities, each ripping a page or a paragraph from this book, then that, until the day came when the books were empty and the minds shut and the libraries closed forever.” It centers on state-based censorship – similar to acts by President Trump to remove all mentions of transgender people from government-funded sites and literature. Bradbury later argued minorities were the cause of censorship, forgetting that Fahrenheit 451 centers on government censorship – and these minorities have never held power in the same way that Republicans have.
Like 1984, you can find Fahrenheit 451 at any library. It’s also available for free in PDF format online in several places, although it’s not commonly uploaded as an audiobook for free – so visit your local library if you prefer alternative formats.
It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
Published originally in 1935, It Can’t Happen Here is a dystopian novel that predates 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 but it’s recently rejoined best-seller lists alongside other dystopian classics. While the other two novels are science fiction, It Can’t Happen Here is historical fiction and instead visualizes an alternative reality of 1930s America where the United States falls to fascism. Lewis uses the fictional character Berzelius ‘Buzz’ Windrip to portray real-life Adolf Hitler in Germany, who was rising to power overseas – but in this reality, Buzz becomes America’s first dictator through a self-coup through the same tactics Hitler and Mussolini did.
Unlike later dystopian works, It Can’t Happen Here doesn’t try to imagine new technologies that aid totalitarianism or a far-away future. The point of the work is that fascism can very well happen in America – which Lewis was cautioning against in 1935. Even in Lewis’ time, American Nazis were a very real threat to democracy as they integrated into US politics. The Friends of New Germany, German American Bund, and other Nazi organizations purposely spread fascist propaganda as they infiltrated other parties and stormed American newspaper publishers. Several entities have been compared to the story, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt’s forced relocation of Japanese Americans during WWII, potential presidential candidate Huey Long, Richard Nixon through the Watergate scandal, George W. Bush’s attack on individual privacy and the National Security Agency, and most recently Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Considering It Can’t Happen Here is such an old novel, you should be able to find it at any library – but it’s also available via PDF on the Internet Archive as well as an audiobook on YouTube.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
As a contemporary pick, The Hunger Games took the world by storm when it was released in 2008. No matter your age, I recommend giving it a re-read – the themes you’ll pull will likely vary since Americans have vastly different interpretations of the series depending on their media literacy level. The books focus on an oppressive American future controlled by an oligarchy that a populist movement strives to overcome – bringing up an interesting point that despite how Trump and other fascist leaders use populism, it isn’t inherently a bad thing since populism is a general movement by the common public against the establishment. Fascist rulers convince the public that they are the sole savior for the nation against the twisted government that hinders common folks – and since these rulers are well-versed in propaganda, they make it look convincing to their audiences.
At its core, The Hunger Games centers on the social inequality that causes caste discrimination within American capitalism – but it also delves into the ethics of entertainment and war alongside mass revolution. I’ve seen many right-wingers try to compare the book’s inequality as an allegory to communism – but the series overwhelmingly describes the conditions caused by unchecked capitalism due to the wealth hoarding by the government creating painful conditions for the poor common class. Unlike Bradbury, Collins has remained politically silent – a wise move considering the fall of other authors like JK Rowling – but her novels’ political views mark her as not conservative. The Hunger Games is a good fictional read for anti-fascism because it explores oppression, governmental totalitarianism, the injustice of capitalism, and how dictators like Snow impact freedom.
You will likely find a copy of The Hunger Games at your local library – although you might have trouble getting some of the newer releases like The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping. Read it online via the Internet Archive’s upload or as an audiobook on YouTube.
Beautiful Trouble by Andrew Boyd
The first nonfiction book on this list, Beautiful Trouble is a collection of ‘creative campaigns’ throughout activism’s history. Written as a handbook and guide, it details strategies, theories, and examples of demonstrations – successful or otherwise. Beautiful Trouble illustrates forms of protest beyond just marches and boycotts (although it does touch on them) and explains the philosophies that guided previous movements to action.
Unlike the fictional novels I’ve included, you’re not inherently going to get some moral from Beautiful Trouble – but it’s a book that I readily recommend to any individual interested in social justice. It is a less dense read than similar books that aim to disrupt the current status quo in activism (ex. The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex) but makes you want to delve deeper and learn more. In oppressive regimes, most forms of protest are illegal – but it guides you through the risks and benefits in ways that Recipes for Disaster and The Anarchist Cookbook don’t. Beautiful Trouble also takes inspiration from beyond Europe and North America – it’s easy for people to focus on demonstrations that have taken place within the ‘first world,’ even though most campaigns happen elsewhere
You are unlikely to find Beautiful Trouble or other nonfiction books I’ve included at your public library – it’s not impossible, but it will vary drastically based on what state you reside in and what library district you’re connected to. However, most nonfiction social justice books are available for free online – Beautiful Trouble and its tools are all hosted on its website with constant updates as well as its upload on the Internet Archive. These books are aimed at creating a better world, so there are fewer paywalls associated with them – even for newer releases, you typically just have to wait a few months before they’re uploaded somewhere like The Anarchist Library, Internet Archive, Library Genesis, or the Pirate Bay.
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
It’s a short read, but On Tyranny is a fantastic introduction to breaking common individuals out of their isolated bubbles and understanding how fascism can still happen in places like the United States today like Germany, Italy, and other historical fascist governments. Snyder published the work at the beginning of the first Trump presidency, and the book’s lessons are even more important now as Trump’s administration takes a bolder turn towards authoritarianism.
Snyder is primarily a historian – but history is political. On Tyranny is not an end-all book, but another good starting point and probably one of the best to recommend to non-political friends and family. He wrote the book intending to wake people up from the monotony of centralism since the failure of the political left and center in Germany led to the far-right’s rise in the 1930s. It includes fundamental ideas in just over 100 pages that, if spread to enough open minds, can prevent a fascist takeover of America. Do not obey in advance, remember professional ethics, believe in truth, listen to dangerous words, be a patriot – because there’s little less American than being anti-fascist, especially in service to democracy and the common good.
This book is immediately next on my reading list – it was gathering dust until this most recent election but analyses contemporary anti-fascist movements throughout the United States and Europe. It was published at the same time as On Tyranny but takes a militant approach when considering how to handle the far-right. Whereas Snyder focuses on bringing people to attention to the signs of fascism, Bray moves people to take up arms as a reasonable and legitimate reaction to fascism.
According to Donald Trump and other enemies of democracy, ‘antifa’ is a real political party – but as Bray explains, antifa (or anti-fascism) is merely the belief that fascism and authoritarianism are inherently wrong and is no more a political party than other political terms like ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative.’ In fact, anyone can be anti-fascist regardless of whether they identify as a Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Libertarian, or something else as long as they remain opposed to authoritarian rule. The reason why more leftists identify with anti-fascism compared to conservatives is because the far-right leans into power consolidation but anti-fascism is nonpartisan. In the face of fascism, everyone must be united to preserve democracy.
Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook is less likely to be found in a public library, but it is commonly uploaded on the internet. Check the Internet Archive for a few uploads and YouTube for audio versions.
Strongmen by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
As one of the most recently published books on this list, Strongmendiscusses the lengthy history of fascist leaders and the movements that opposed them – ranging from historical examples like Adolf Hitler to contemporary fascists like Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. It’s a great read if you’re interested in the personalities and egos that lead fascist leaders to assume power – but it’s a dense book. Ben-Ghiat is another historian, so Strongmen is just as much a history book as a political one.
Ben-Ghiat’s book isn’t entirely gloomy, though – she makes it clear that while authoritarian rulers do terrible things to their countries, they’re awfully predictable since they are pushed by their egos and beliefs to forcibly move nations. That doesn’t alleviate the harm caused by fascist movements, but it does guide activists to understand their opponents and the movements that stand behind them. With current events, we’re seeing this play out between the extraordinarily public and fragile egos of Donald Trump and Elon Musk – while the two men publicly collaborate, it is also incredibly clear that they are competing against each other to be America’s sitting president.
Strongmen is available in some libraries, as well as several places online via PDF – but you might have to do some digging since it does not have a centralized version on major sites like Internet Archive.
Why Bad Governments Happen to Good People by Danny Katch
Another book inspired and published right after Trump’s 2016 election, Why Bad Governments Happen to Good People explores the political system that enabled Trump to rise to power in the first place. Compared to other titles on this list, Katch’s book is lesser known, more humorous, and an easier read than books like Strongmen.
Katch uses the current political system as an introductory point for socialism in the United States – most Americans dislike capitalism even if they lack the words to verbalize it after decades of pro-capitalism propaganda. He wrote it after his 2015 work Socialism… Seriously: A Brief Guide to Human Liberation to outline how the United States was capable of putting Donald Trump in the White House after the two-term presidency of Barack Obama. Can America turn back and restore democracy? Can Americans vote fascism out of power?
Unfortunately, Why Bad Governments Happen to Good People isn’t broadly available – it’s unlikely to be in your local library and there are no full editions of the work online. At the time of this article, the only way to get a copy is to purchase it online either as an e-book or paperback.
How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
Levitsky and Ziblatt wrote How Democracies Diein 2018, also in response to Donald Trump’s rise within the Republican Party. Rather than focus on just Trump, they write about the long-standing tradition among political leaders to subvert democracy to further increase their individual power. Rooted in political theory, How Democracies Die pushes readers towards the center – in the grand scheme of democracy, political parties must tolerate and respect their opponents as legitimate even when they disagree to ensure fair elections based on the public’s interests. They also explain the dangers of abusing the various branches of government – but given the period, How Democracies Die isn’t able to hold up to the current reality of the Republican Party that wages war on democracy.
Considered one of the most important books on political theory from the first Trump administration, How Democracies Die is not a guidebook for Donald Trump’s return to office – these periods illustrate the schism between advocating for moderate opinions and the paradox of tolerance since tolerating fascist parties will ultimately lead to the destruction of democracy. Yet, that doesn’t make the book null: Levitsky and Ziblatt explain how America got here and is a time capsule when tolerance was still an option. Even if tolerance is no longer able to defend democracy, How Democracies Die invites readers to think critically about the cost and benefits of such tolerance as they fight for a future.
How Democracies Die was even read and carried by President Joe Biden during his term, which he occasionally read passages from – so it shouldn’t be difficult to locate a copy near you. If your library doesn’t have a version available, check out the Internet Archive.
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
In 1991, Art Spiegelman published the final chapters of the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus: A Survivor’s Tale – the story uses the real-life experiences of Spiegelman’s father as a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor, depicting Jewish people as mice, Germans as cats, and Poles as pigs. The entire series was published between 1980 to 1991, which makes up The Complete Maus today.
Since Maus directly deals with the Holocaust, it’s been banned as ‘inappropriate’ in recent years. After being banned in a Tennessee district in 2022, the series skyrocketed as an Amazon best-seller as more school districts throughout the country tried to follow suit. Additionally, Maus‘s availability varies around the world since countries like Russia have banned the book due to its inclusion of the Nazi swastika. Most American schools have not successfully banned Maus, although the book is still aimed at youth ages 13 and older due to its violent content and depictions of the Holocaust.
Most public libraries should have Maus, although it might depend on the state you’re residing in due to censorship laws and book bans. It’s available on the Internet Archive and as an audiobook on YouTube – but considering it’s a graphic novel, I recommend actually reading it over listening to the series.
Banned Books
As a general rule, any book that is banned is a book worth reading. Censorship grows alongside fascism, and book bans have been steadily climbing in number by Republicans through school boards and library takeovers.
At the beginning of February, I created a set of shareable images of actions anyone can take if they’re feeling angry, upset, or otherwise motivated due to the current anti-trans political climate. It’s a fantastic starting point as a guide – this post is more advanced for folks wanting additional context.
DISCLAIMER: This guide does NOT promote illegal activity and does not incite the public to violate the law. This article is strictly for informational purposes and takes no responsibility for what individuals do with this information.
Why act? Why does it matter?
It is easy to give in to hopelessness. The world can be a terrible place and there are individuals in power whose mission is to eradicate transness alongside other people deemed invaluable by themselves and the organizations that support them. There has never been a time within human history without queerness and there will never be a time without us – the world is overwhelmingly a better place with trans folks like you and me in it, which is why we must act. It is unfair and exhausting, but do not let bullies push you out of existence – your life is worth fighting for, as are the future lives of transgender kids and the past histories of transgender elders they erase.
Most Americans are not aware of what is going on. The United States is one of the best countries in the world at distributing propaganda to its citizens, and most Americans lack media literacy skills regardless of their age, political affiliation, or educational background. Americans are not stupid, but most of us are unable to connect the dots on how fascism is taking hold in our government based on past fascist regimes. Currently, mainstream American media is owned and controlled by the Republican party – this isn’t an exaggeration. Large news sites like the New York Times and Washington Post are being censored by their billionaire owners, and similar actions are being done by television media like CNN by moving ‘controversial’ hosts to worse spots. The top social media platforms also fall into this, with sites like Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and even TikTok catering to the GOP. Google changed the official name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America while removing Black History Month and LGBTQIA+ topics and doodles.
Why? Personally, I think Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook are great case examples. At the end of the day, Zuckerberg and most other insanely wealthy people do not subscribe to the ideas or politics of the GOP: they’re in the business of making as much money as possible, regardless of the political party in power. Many were shocked when Facebook officially released its new rules stating harmful speech against transgender folks was no longer considered hate speech on the platform – but Mark is attempting to appeal to what he believes will get him the most profit. These term updates and making the office “more masculine” aren’t that different from when Facebook changed into a rainbow logo in June. Similarly, Bezos barred the Washington Post from making a political endorsement in 2024 because he feared making the ‘wrong’ endorsement would harm profits since an angry Trump would be liable to use his political power to persecute his enemies. Elon is super-gluing himself to Trump’s backside because he believes it will produce the most profit. Unfortunately, the same thing happened during Hitler’s rise to power and Nazism as BBC History writes, “The elites [of 1930s Germany] thought they could ride Hitler like a horse. But they soon discovered that they were the horse and that Hitler was the horseman.” Like those German elites, today’s American billionaires believe they can use fascism to deepen their pockets – even if they lack the foresight or integrity to see how terrible a decision that is in the long run.
Combined, most of the actions I recommend circle around visibility. If the American public cannot see our anguish because we are being censored by mainstream media, then we must draw attention until they are unable to censor us.
That being said, I’m a strong believer that there is more than one way to be an activist and incite change. For a movement to work, we can’t all be on soapboxes and leading marches: to lead a successful demonstration in your community, you need leaders but you also need folks well-versed in first aid, marketing, security, and empathy to make it work. I’m a fan of education as a form of activism (hence this blog) – there’s so much value in meeting people where they are and opening their values to social justice. The American public largely wants ‘radical’ programs like universal healthcare, better wages, and marriage equality, but they lack the language to see their value beyond the GOP versus Democrat binary that pushes them to see anything ‘radical’ as un-American and communist. When considering what actions you want to take, that’s worth remembering: to win the American public over and see our struggle, we have to cater to their human nature and play to their values. Our fight is everyone’s fight in the war on fascism, so open them up to ideas like fascism is inherently un-American, hatred is un-Christlike, and anyone who preaches hatred over empathy should be questioned.
All of the actions discussed can be performed with or without a large group. Many forms of social change can be carried out best with a small group of tight-knit folks united by a common cause (also known as an affinity group) – so empower yourself and your friends to get out there. Every action, no matter how small, is valuable. Even if just one person sees your message before it is removed or censored, it matters and is worth the effort.
Do Not Comply: In Advance or Otherwise
“Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.” – On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
Laws do not dictate morality and something being legal does not make it okay. Fascism relies on obedience and thrives when individuals obey in advance. We are already witnessing this – upon Trump’s executive orders, hundreds of hospitals immediately halted transgender care in fear of violating the administration’s unjust orders. Upon Trump’s return to the White House, sites like Facebook preemptively changed its guidelines to harm transgender users. When Trump banned DEI via order, thousands of companies compiled without a second thought because it is easier to follow unjust laws than it is to sue or refuse to obey.
OnTyranny goes into this a great deal, and I recommend the entire book – it’s easy to follow and uses historical examples from previous fascist regimes, and compares them to modern times. Snyder explains, “If lawyers had followed the norm of no execution without trial, if doctors had accepted the rule of no surgery without consent, if businessmen had endorsed the prohibition of slavery, if bureaucrats had refused to handle paperwork involving murder, then the Nazi regime would have been much harder pressed to carry out the atrocities by which we remember it.” In other words, fascism would not have been able to flourish if the public had been resistant or refused to comply with terrible rules. Remind people of their values, personal and professional ethics, and their role in preventing tragedy. Call out institutions and people who comply in advance. Offer space to change and learn, and encourage them to stand up.
Call Your Reps
This action is… Legal!
Admittedly, this is hard to do – it’s easy to be overwhelmed with life and be too socially awkward to call your elected officials. No matter your social skills, you’re entitled to be heard by your representatives because they work for you.
Emails, written letters, and petitions usually get dumped directly into the trash before being read. Some officials are better than others about reading these, but they’re commonly disregarded unless they’re presented in a remarkable way. Phone calls are harder to ignore – which is why Republicans call a LOT. On an average day, right-wingers call their elected officials four times compared to others. When specific issues come up like queer rights being included on an upcoming bill, that number skyrockets 11:1. Unlike unread emails and letters, representatives have to listen to phone calls. Officials assign staff to listen to all callers every day and report on the top issues via a summary. When a topic gets enough attention, that representative will be pushed to take a stance based on the views of their callers since they’re assumed to be voting constituents – even if that view contradicts their party platform.
The phone numbers of all elected officials in Congress are publicly available. Some people find it helpful to save these numbers in their contact list to call regularly. If you don’t know who represents you in Congress, usa.gov/elected-officials will give you current information based on your address to direct you. Take the information there and insert it into house.gov and senate.gov to get the contact details of your officials. You will likely be sent to their personal website, which you will need to navigate to find their phone number – most ‘contact’ forms will try to force you to stop at an email, so look for something like ‘offices.’
When calling, make sure you have a script. It’s easy to stumble over your words, especially as you’re calling about issues that matter deeply to you. After enough practice, you’ll be able to call without a script – but there’s no rush. I have a practice script focused on DOGE, but it’s not hard to write one with AI tools like ChatGPT available to organize your thoughts.
Anyone Can Write
This action is… Legal!
Even if major media outlets are catering to fascism, news isn’t dead. Everyone and anyone is qualified to write op-eds and letters to the editor. A select number is published in print and online with each release, letting your message be read by thousands. Opinion sections have been used to highlight political topics for decades since it’s a free way to publish your work. The following buttons direct you to relevant places for both the Post and NYT.
Major news publications have thousands of writers submit their work each day – so you are less likely to be published compared to other outlets. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it – keep writing until you get published, and then keep writing for the cause. Look up the specific submission guidelines for your local, regional, or national news of choice. All newspapers (as well as many other media outlets) invite reader submissions.
Make Your Mark
This action is… Illegal!
It’s easy to post flyers, stickers, and other messages in your community. You can look up a recipe for wheat pasting, the old-school method of sticking flyers, online – or you can purchase a can of high-strength spray adhesive at any local home improvement store. Like always, public libraries are your friend since they offer printing services significantly cheaper than commercial alternatives like Staples or Office Depot – some libraries have self-service stations that allow you to print without getting the help or approval of staff.
Label 228s are free stickers issued by the United States Postal Service meant to allow the general public to easily write addresses on packages. These labels can even be ordered and mailed for free directly to your home – which is why they became widely associated with graffiti culture beginning in the 1990s. ‘Slaps’ are easy to access, decorate, and adhere to – but it’s technically illegal to use Label 228s for non-mail purposes.
Some places are more legal to tag than others. Walls, utility poles, and public restrooms are generally considered illegal unless you have permission from the city or business owner. Of course, in the words of many graffiti artists who use spray paint, paint markers, and other tools to leave their mark: “No face, no case.” On the other end of the spectrum, lots of community venues have public boards where anyone can place flyers – but a political or pro-trans message may be likely to be taken down in these locations.
Under Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code, defacement of currency is a punishable crime. Defacement is defined as mutilating, cutting, disfiguring, perforating, uniting, or cementing together bills with the intent to make them unfit to be used – but it leaves two things to note. One, it’s only a crime if you are caught defacing currency – it’s not a crime to have defaced money and there is no way to know who wrote what on a bill which is why money defacement is an unprosecutable crime. Secondly, writing on money is not considered defacement despite what most people believe.It’s actually commonly used to spread messages regarding social change since cash is widely used.
Okay, spreading information as a whole is not illegal – but the following method is. Most people have a mailbox to receive items through the postal service – these mailboxes must be kept safe and easy to access for packages to be regularly delivered. It is illegal to place items in mailboxes if you are not authorized postal personnel (ex. a mail carrier or rural mail carrier) since without postage, it’s considered tampering with mail and a violation of federal law.
It is fully legal to send mail through the postal service, but you’ll have to pay postage. As long as the mail doesn’t violate any major rules, the USPS will send it – including junk mail. USPS even has an online tool to allow you to send mail in bulk based on zip code, “Every Door Direct Mail.” However, it is extremely uncommon for people to be arrested or prosecuted for placing mail directly into someone’s mailbox without postage or the USPS. Generally, this law only gets brought up when local companies try to send a ton of junk mail to communities.
Similarly, it’s sometimes legal to put flyers on cars and other personal transportation. Even when cars are parked in public areas, it can be considered trespassing since the car is private property – but these laws fluctuate too greatly to make large-scale assumptions. Look up your local laws to determine if it’s legal in your area or risk getting into trouble if you’re caught.
Show Up
This action is… Legal!
The Constitution guarantees the Freedoms of Speech, Assembly, and Petition to ALL people within the United States – regardless of citizenship, political view, gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, etc. In relation to social change,these rights give you well-protected status to be in ‘traditional public forums’ like streets, parks, sidewalks, and government buildings. When demonstrating in these spaces, you don’t need a permit to protest, picket, hand out flyers, or speak out as long as you’re not blocking traffic.
Some cities require individuals to fill out permits to hold demonstrations regardless of whether they’re in a public forum. It’s up to you whether you want to complete the appropriate paperwork or go for the “ask for forgiveness later” approach – again, remember you have the right regardless of permit regulations.
Stay in Touch
This action is… Legal!
Keep community connections and share information about upcoming actions in your social network. In deeply dangerous times when fascism is at its worst, it is easy for the general public to forget about the marginalized since those in power work to cover up the inhumane damage caused. By being a regular person in your community, you establish a connection that can’t easily be forgotten. When people realize they know a trans person, it’s difficult to demonize us once we are seen as people.
“Make eye contact and small talk. This is not just polite. It is part of being a citizen and a responsible member of society… A smile, a handshake, or a word of greeting—banal gestures in a normal situation—took on great significance. When friends, colleagues, and acquaintances looked away or crossed the street to avoid contact, fear grew.” – On Tyranny, Chapter 12
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, most actions can be done alone or with just a few friends. If you’re engaging in high-risk work that dabbles in activities either illegal or disliked by political opponents, you should learn some digital safety. Learn more about activism and digital safety here. As Snyder elaborates, “Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware on a regular basis. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Tyrants seek the hook on which to hang you. Try not to have hooks.”
Lastly, it is important to stay up-to-date on current events – even if it’s triggering and exhausting. Fascism works best when it overwhelms you, but it is important to keep acting. This is difficult to do even when fascism is at bay, but an uninformed activist isn’t capable of much change. Pick a few select news sources that you can trust as reliable and do not feed into sensationalism – enough to keep you current on events, but not too much to overwhelm.
This week brought us a second Trump administration, inevitably eroding many of our rights. The fight for a better society is a long journey filled with struggle, especially since figures in power actively work to keep people from resisting. While pursuing equality, it’s important to make efforts to protect your digital safety – especially when hostile groups or the government can target your activism. It’s nearly impossible to exist without connecting to the internet. Save yourself the headache now by learning about what you can do to become safer online.
Author’s Note: Digital security becomes outdated extremely fast. This article will become obsolete at some point, so make sure to review the advice given here and apply it with updated ideas.
The more your movement wishes to change the status quo, the more likely you will be targeted by cyberwarfare. In fascist and conservative societies, simply being marginalized is seen as opposing the status quo – even if it is not something that can be changed. Being vocally and visibly out puts you at risk, but it’s also where you can create the most change. Online harassment and doxxing are commonplace for non-activists that merely upset the wrong people, but targeted surveillance and hacking are weaponized if your movement is deemed an ideological threat.
The largest real-world examples are the actions taken by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation against the civil rights movement, which spied on figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, and Aretha Franklin. COINTELPRO was the official series operated by the FBI, which covertly and illegally surveilled, infiltrated, discredited, and disrupted groups they deemed subversive like Black power, civil rights, the American Indian Movement, Brown Berets, United Farm Workers, and numerous feminist, environmental, and left-wing organizations. COINTELPRO is the most notable example, but similar programs most certainly exist today to allegedly secure national security. Even when the government is not involved, ill-intentioned individuals and organizations put energy into disrupting equality.
Watch It! Do Risk Assessment!
Before you get the conspiracy hats on, it’s important to note that most people will not be targeted by large-scale operations or the government. By nature, activists are at a higher risk, but simply being transgender won’t land you under increased surveillance unless you’re part of a group that can feasibly undermine others.
Risk assessment refers to identifying potential hazards so you can plan to avoid them as much as possible. Digital security is complicated, long-winded, and limiting – the more secure you become, the less freedom you’ll have online. For those reasons, not everyone needs to have a high level of security if it’s unneeded. Before continuing, think about these five questions:
What do I need to protect?
Who do I need to protect it from?
How much do they want that information and how easy is it for them to get it?
What happens if they get it?
What am I willing to do to stop that from happening?
The Secure Communications Framework
The SCF is an open-source model that was created to help activists, human rights researchers, and other individuals interested in security determine the best tools and practices for their situation/work. The following chart is the secure communications framework, but I’ll break down the lingo used.
The “x” axis, or spectrum going rightward, represents your work:
Limited Impact: The item or work is not publicly available. Becoming public or taken might reduce the speed or impact of your work, but your message and strategy would be safe.
Public: The item or work is publicly available information. There are no inherently negative consequences of it being publicly available, so it doesn’t need security.
Significant Impact to Research/Organization or Limited Impact to Individuals: Confidential information and work being publicly exposed would likely need organizational strategy revision. Individuals are impacted in non-physical ways.
Significant Impact to Individuals: The unplanned public release of this information would result in an individual being physically detained, arrested, or harmed.
The “y” axis, or spectrum going upward, represents who you are targeting with your mission:
Interest Groups and Individual Actors: Interest groups are organizations and communities that share a common interest or goal. Individual actors refer to any single person who plays a role in your work – these are often regular people who can be persuaded to work with or against you.
Governments, Corporations, and Non-State Actors: Organizations that can use passive or untargeted methods to monitor your work. Most entities fall here until you have drawn their attention.
Highly Capable and Motivated Adversaries: Organizations that are taking active/targeted steps to learn or interfere with your work.
Using the bullet points on the SCF above, you can tell there is a significant difference in the risk involved. A draft press release wouldn’t require any changes, even if it was annoying if it got exposed early, but a list of projects might need alteration if it got leaked. Personnel information being exposed might lead to online harassment, but a testimony being leaked might cause an individual to be detained.
Work that falls in the purple sectors requires regular basic security practices. Individuals should use an encrypted email and device, and should only use organization-issued computers and phones if part of a larger group.
Work that falls in the orange sectors needs to use end-to-end encryption for all communications and border crossing security.
Work that falls in the red sector should consult with a trusted security expert in addition to the previous guidance. It’s also recommended to only work from devices disconnected from the internet and not use any closed systems communications.
As I’ll get into below, digital security is extensive – there is little reason to use top-tier safety mechanisms for work that does not need protection. The more secure something becomes, the more tedious it is to use. The more your work is guarded, the fewer people will hear your message.
Back to Basics: Safety Anyone Can (and Should) Do
Browsers Matter!
Regularly update your operating systems (OS), browsers, and apps. More than 90% of software updates are security patches – forgetting or refusing to update your devices is more likely to put you at a data breach than your device just becoming slow. This is especially important on organizational computers and devices you use for your work!
Speaking of browsers – not all internet applications are created equally. Google Chrome stands as the industry leader, which is incredibly fast and the default for most users – but they’re one of the worst browsers for data security, going to great lengths to obtain and sell user information to the highest advertising bidder. Microsoft Edge is forcibly installed on all Windows devices, the modern version of Windows Explorer – it consumes less power and battery resources than Chrome and sets the precedent for in-browser AI. Apple-based devices use Safari, which boasts robust privacy protections that separate it from its competitors – but it’s difficult to trust one of the tech industry’s leaders at face value. Arc is a new face on the scene, released in 2023 using Chromium to focus on user productivity and multitasking.
The two most secure internet browsers that actually provide digital safety are Firefox and Brave. Opera used to claim this title too, flaunting its free VPN feature built into its programming, but it’s come under fire for selling user data to advertisers. Both Firefox and Brave prioritize user privacy, but it’s personal preference between the two. Supposedly, Brave is better at privacy out-of-the-box, while Firefox requires more set-up – but in turn, Firefox is more customizable.
Special Feature: Tor
Occasionally known as the “dark web browser,”Tor (which stands for The Onion Router) is an open-source overlay network that takes user privacy to an extreme by using numerous networks to encrypt information multiple times. This makes it nearly impossible for entities to track you, making your internet browsing anonymous. Compared to other internet browsers, Tor takes more user knowledge since it’s complicated and has fewer features than mainstream browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Tor also hides your IP address (discussed below in VPNs) – but despite the sketchy reputation the dark web has, Tor is fully legal to use. It’s used for tons of legitimate purposes like journalism and activism! However, Tor is not lawless – if you get caught engaging in criminal activities, you can still get in trouble.
HTTPS What?
All websites use either HTTP or HTTPS – it’s included at the very beginning of a web address like https://transsolidarityproject.wordpress.com/. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) transfers data over your network, but your information can be read by anyone monitoring that website’s connection. For that reason, HTTP sites are more likely to expose user data like passwords, credit card numbers, and other important details.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts HTTP transfers. When someone tries to monitor an HTTPS website, they’ll only get random encrypted characters instead of private user information. HTTPS is considered vastly safer, so websites that utilize it are boosted in search engines to steer users. That doesn’t mean HTTP sites are bad – it just means you should be wary when using them and consider additional security protections if you don’t fully trust the site.
Secure Your Network: VPNs
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are always brought up quickly when discussing digital privacy. VPNs establish a digital connection between your device and a remote server, encrypting your personal information and masking your IP address. Both of these functions serve important purposes:
Your IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique number given to your device while using the internet, allowing it to communicate and connect with the rest of the world. If someone obtains your IP address, they can pinpoint your location up to the postal code you live in – IPs don’t show exact locations, but combined with other information hackers can obtain like birthdates and Social Security numbers, fraud can occur under the right circumstances.
Information that has been encrypted can only be unlocked through a unique digital key since the encryption process scrambles the data into a secret code. Even if someone gets access to your network, they won’t be able to unscramble the encryption placed on your devices or cloud storage – keeping data confidential.
People use VPNs for a variety of reasons – while I’m focusing on data privacy, many users have VPNs to bypass regional content locks. Once your IP is masked, your location can be set to anywhere in the world – allowing you to access websites and content in other countries. Others use VPNs to simply block internet service providers from logging and tracking their search history, and some users have VPNs to get around government censorship and surveillance. While VPN usage and IP masking can look suspicious to police, there is no way to track live encrypted VPN traffic – and you can’t get in trouble just because your internet usage looks a bit suspicious.
Most people don’t need to use a VPN. Digital privacy feels great, but it’s a lot of steps that most people don’t need if they’re unconcerned with their browsing data being sold to advertisers since most people aren’t worried about being censored or surveilled. At the end of the day, regular folks only need a VPN if they’re connected to a public or otherwise untrusted internet network – which is when you’re at the most risk of having your data stolen. Otherwise, members of the general public can get by using an ad blocker like Privacy Badger – a browser extension available on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera that stops third-party trackers.
If you have never used a VPN ever, I recommend Tunnelbear – it’ll get you used to the mechanics of how VPNs work for free and has a user-friendly interface. That’s important because VPNs can get complicated if you’re unaccustomed and don’t have high data privacy literacy, which is most people.
For the majority of people, Proton VPN is the best choice. There are hundreds of VPN providers that all promise specialized features and user security. It’s not terribly hard to use, and it’s free. Entirely free, with a connection speed similar to premium versions – the only downside to Proton is that you can only connect their free VPN service to one device at a time. Proton also hosts a secure email service, cloud storage, password manager, calendar, and wallet for users, too.
If you really want to pay someone for a VPN (and it’s not Proton), NordVPN is an industry-standard. It has a little bit of everything, providing slightly more encryption than Proton, and has built-in antivirus protection among its many tools. It has something to offer for everyone – but it’s definitely more pricey than other VPN providers. If you’re curious about other VPNs, the r/VPN subreddit has a datasheet comparing major providers.
Why would I use a VPN and not Tor?
User-friendliness, mostly. You don’t need both – if you have Tor, you don’t need a VPN, and if you have a VPN, you don’t really need Tor unless you’re going for the freedom and anonymity that Tor provides. Generally, VPNs are more user-friendly and significantly faster than Tor but it’s personal preference. Like Proton, Tor is entirely free to use.
Security Management & 2FA
Two-step or two-factor authentication (2FA) requires two forms of identification to access an account, which protects your devices and information even when passwords are leaked. With standard single-factor authentication (SFA), a user just inserts one password to access their account – but if their password becomes compromised, all of their account data is at risk. With 2FA, users provide that same password but also have to provide a different second item like a security token, fingerprint scan, facial recognition, or pressing a button on an additional device.
You don’t need 2FA on everything, but you should enable it where possible – especially on password managers, finances, and social media profiles. It’s a simple step that saves you a lot of hassle! It’s rumored that the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign actively rejected security advice to use 2FA on its accounts, leading to the thousands of emails that were leaked by Russian hackers – if they had used 2FA, we might be living in a very different America.
Most 2FA apps are entirely free, but it’s up to you which one to go with. GoogleAuthenticator is the go-to for most folks, followed by 2FA Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and Duo Mobile. However, I’d actually recommend 2FA out of the above options since it allows for cloud back-ups and provides protection that Google doesn’t.
Don’t Dox Yourself, Use an Alias
You have the power to determine how much of yourself is online. Make an effort to review what information is publicly available so you don’t accidentally dox yourself. Doxxing refers to when personally identifiable information about an individual or organization is released without their consent, and it can be done maliciously by all sides of the political spectrum. A handful of US states have criminalized doxxing, but assuming the perpetrator has taken steps to not get doxxed themselves, it’s difficult to tackle.
By using an online alias or alternate name, you can protect your real-life identity since your actual name and contact information aren’t readily available. However, aliases are less common today outside of certain communities and forums.
Do You Trust Meta?
Just like internet browsers, not all social media sites equally value your personal information and privacy. Some of the most privacy-friendly sites used in the US include Reddit and Snapchat – Reddit is filled with anonymous accounts used for their forums, and Snapchat deletes messages after being read while also notifying users if someone tries to screenshot their content. Similarly, Amazon, Grindr, Pinterest, Spotify, and Lyft all collect minimal data compared to other major sites. Not on the below list, Bluesky is a growing platform and alternative to Twitter/X that does not sell data – they’re an open-source network with a focus on privacy meant to resemble what Twitter used to be like before its takeover by Elon Musk.
Some of the worst offenders for digital security include Meta, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Uber. Despite lobbying by Meta owner Zuckerberg, Meta sells insurmountably more user data than supposedly dangerous sites like TikTok – which is why its sites are poor choices for privacy, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, and Messenger. Since it’s owned by Google, YouTube is slow to delete its user data even after account deletion. Uber obtains a large quantity of user information, which can be used to target individuals seeking criminalized services like gender-affirming care and abortions if given to the wrong entities. Lastly, while LinkedIn isn’t as malicious as other sites, they’ve suffered the greatest number of data breaches.
Protect Your Messages
The use of artificial intelligence is growing – which means privacy theft, scams, and blackmail schemes are becoming more complicated. There are very real people willing to buy private chat logs, photos, and videos from your phone. One step you can take towards protecting yourself online is switching messaging platforms.
For secure messaging, there is no better alternative than Signal. All messages are secured with end-to-end encryption and it’s used by government agencies as well as activist groups. While you must have a phone number to sign up for a free Signal account, your information is secure and isn’t sold.
After Signal, WhatsApp is an internationally used platform that automatically deletes messages and images – but many users don’t inherently trust its privacy claims since WhatsApp is owned by Meta. Most messaging platforms are more secure than direct SMS or texting since texting generally lacks encryption, although this varies depending if you’re using mobile data or a local internet connection.
Messages aren’t the only thing you should keep secure – Jitsi is the most recommended platform for video calls and conferencing. Unlike Zoom, Jitsi actually uses end-to-end encryption and passwords to protect users. Zoom has been targeted by numerous security threats and data breaches.
While I am recommending Signal and Jitsi for digital privacy, the same rules apply to everything else I’ve mentioned. Most people do not need everything on this list – targeted ads are mildly annoying but worth the freedom and ease that comes with mainstream browsers like Chrome. Even if you’re transitioning to these sites, it’s impossible to get all of your contacts to stop using their preferred messaging platform like Facebook for something like Signal instead. For those reasons, this means digital security in practice is ‘use what you need, as needed.’ The majority of your messages don’t necessarily need tons of protection since they shouldn’t contain sensitive information – so I recommend using platforms like Signal as needed for sensitive topics and contacts, kept separately from your other messages.
Protect Your Device (Physically)
It’s essentially impossible to exist in modern society without a cell phone or similar device. They store our credit cards, identification, maps, contacts, and photos – you can hardly apply for a job without having a reliable phone number. Some people believe that old phones (or dumb phones) are safer than modern cell phones – this is untrue. The information you likely want to protect from the SCF can’t be secured with dumb phones because they cannot encrypt data and cannot use encrypted apps like Signal or VPNs. True dumb phones can’t operate in most places since they lack the modern VoLTE required, and modern dumb phones are just lobotomized smartphones without the capability to use apps or security updates.
It is remarkably easy to get caught up in data breaches in the cloud when discussing digital security, but you can have your data stolen just as easily IRL.Physical and external devices like your phone, USBs, and micro USBs can leak your information if stolen – having your devices encrypted is vital for this possibility. The most dangerous information you can have on your device is photos, contacts, recordings, and login information – especially if you are part of a sensitive movement or organization. In those cases, that data should only be stored on select devices that just a few people can access. When your device is stolen by thieves or law enforcement, it’s more than just your information they’re accessing if they can see your entire contact list.
Out of all the security options available, facial recognition is one of the worst since it allows your device to be accessed easily – if someone looks too similar to you, it’ll automatically unlock. Worse yet, it’s entirely possible for someone to use your face while you’re restricted or unconscious to unlock the device for them. Following that, finger sensors are only slightly more secure since it is easy for police to force individuals to unlock their phones through their fingerprints. Six-digit passcodes and complex patterns are the most secure way to lock your phone since they are the hardest to hack – as long as you aren’t using a code that’s overtly generic like your birthdate or home address. Beyond passcodes and patterns, the strongest passwords are ones that use a combination of different characters or make up a passphrase that you can memorize.
Create a Paper Trail
In the event that your data is exposed or stolen, document it. Failing to do so means you can’t track the incident – just make sure to shred physical paper copies once you’re done. Documentation allows you to think more carefully about how and why a breach occurred, regardless of whether it was an error on your end or a breach in a remote server like Google. This is exponentially more important when other people are involved, such as in an organization, group, or movement, so all affected individuals can verify their data and reset security protections. Further, you’ll be able to take legal action later on if you find the perpetrator of your leak.
High-Level Security
The following guidance is not for most people – it’s for individuals and organizations at high risk of being targeted and surveilled by opposing groups or the government. The majority of people will only need the following protections sparingly when they engage in high-risk work.
License plates trace your identity, allowing people to find your home address, criminal history, and accident history just by searching online or calling their local DMV. SIM cards work the same way – they can be searched to find out your phone number, contacts, text messages, location, and other identifying information. When engaging with high-risk work, such as going to a protest, it’s better to purchase a burner SIM with cash. Burner phones do not inherently make your digital information more private unless you have a generic SIM you buy to later discard. With as little information on the device as possible, you minimize your risk even if your phone is taken by law enforcement.
Not everyone can be on the front lines at a protest. To maintain security, you should limit high-value individuals from going to actions like protests and demonstrations – if they are detained, their data is the most at-risk. This includes admins and anyone who has login details, contacts, and sensitive messages for your group. Best practices advocate having these individuals stay back and message others remotely during a demonstration through the burner devices people IRL should have, since that both protects your data from possible exposure while also giving your activists access to data as needed by messaging you.
Speaking of which, law enforcement in the United States must have a warrant to search your phone – including if they’ve already seized it after arrest or if they believe they have probable cause for evidence of a crime. Your cell phone is covered under the Fourth Amendment from unreasonable searches and seizures, backed by the 2014 Supreme Court decision inRiley v. California. However, police are allowed to force you to unlock your phones in certain states if you use biometric logins like fingerprints or facial recognition. The courts are especially conflicted about this since it should fall under the Fifth Amendment’s right to not testify against one’s self, but it hasn’t reached the Supreme Court.
Additional Resources
Access Now has information about censorship, surveillance, and data – “A First Look at Digital Security” runs you through what exactly needs protecting and how to do it based on your needs. They even have a free 24/7 digital helpline available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalong, Arabic, and Italian.
ActionSkills has some pretty cool websites worth checking out – like the Commons Library, which hosts educational resources that you can browse for free. The Library even has information on digital security.
Association for Progressive Communications’ Digital Security First Aid Kit for Human Rights Defenders is a collection of tools and links for better online safety. The site is geared towards activists, covering how to send information without being tracked, hacks, abuse, and surveillance.
Digital Defenders has several online publications, ranging from digital support for civil rights, internet blockages, and related topics.
Digital First Aid gives you advice on how to best handle common digital security issues, like losing access to your device or account, viruses, hacking, impersonation, harassment, and surveillance.
Electronic Frontier Foundation is another large digital privacy and free speech group, which hosts tools for activists like the Surveillance Self-Defense (learn the basics on data surveillance), Privacy Badger (a tracking blocker for those who don’t want VPNs), Certbot (enables HTTPS on manually-administered websites), Atlas of Surveillance (documents local police technologies for users to search), Cover Your Tracks (check how well you’re protected from digital tracking), and Street Level Surveillance (which explains how various technologies are used to spy on the public).
Free Software Foundation believes in software freedom, but one of their best resources is their email self-defense guide for individuals wanting to secure their personal email from surveillance but don’t want to move to a platform like Proton.
Front Line Defenders has numerous projects worth looking at, including Security-in-a-Box – an open-source tool that teaches users how to protect their passwords, communication methods, devices, internet connections, and files. Read their entire digital security section here.
Medium has a good article about digital privacy for normal people who don’t need to be overly concerned with security.
Mozilla, which owns and operates Firefox, actually has a ton of information about digital security – including best practices for digital activism.
Oregon State University has a free book on cryptography, a key focus on cybersecurity since it relates to encryption. The book explains why digital security matters and the history of both digital privacy activism and suppression in the United States.
Prism Break is a great reference tool for comparing various software and companies, giving you information on the best platforms for digital privacy.
Rise Up is an autonomous body that values digital liberation and hosts numerous projects for independent forums and media.
SAFETAG is an international network of white hat hackers for small organizations – auditors who intentionally try to penetrate your security to improve your framework.
Security Planner is another free beginner guide to digital security, which gives personalized advice for free based on your needs.
Tactical Tech is a major digital security organization – but they have just as many creative demonstrations and physical exhibitions as they have reference guides and projects. Some of their online projects include the Data Detox Kit (teaches basic digital health, AI, and misinformation), Digital Enquirer (self-paced modules for users interested in online media literacy), the Influence Industry Project (effects of data collection on politics), the GAFAM Empire (information on the monopolized empire by Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft), Our Data Ourselves (learn about data, activism, politics, and yourself), Holistic Security (approach to teaching digital security as an aspect of general wellbeing)
The Movement Hub hosts free online resources for grassroots activism, which includes digital campaigning. Digital Activism is a private website that supports verified organizers with tools after registering.
Watch Your Hack uses everyday language to explain simple internet safety to protect yourself from common hacking techniques.
Looking for resources to better support yourself or a trans loved one? Everyone deserves to lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
Author’s Note: This list is not comprehensive – future blog posts will have details on trans resources not included in this article, which serves as a basic intro to trans resources and information. Also, some legal rights and resources contained in this post may change due to the hostile political environment regarding trans lives.
Get Help Now: Crisis Resources
If you are thinking about harming yourself or others, please get immediate support. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline has call, text, and online chat options available for free confidential support 24/7/365 for anyone in crisis.
I’ve previously mentioned various hotlines and mental health resources, outlining how to navigate counseling, support groups, and telehealth options. Remember that anyone can and should use hotline services – there’s no minimum level of “crisis” you have to have to call, and you’re never wasting their time by doing so.
LGBTQIA+ people, and especially transgender and nonbinary individuals, are more likely to become homeless than cisgender heterosexual folks. Queer individuals have less family support than others due to anti-LGBTQIA+ hostility, so they have limited options for doubling up and staying with family during housing instability. Despite sexual orientation and gender identity being included in discrimination protections under federal laws like the Fair Housing Act, queer people are still turned away from potential landlords and houses unless they have the financial means to fight for their legal rights. Due to these factors, queer and transgender people are more prone to engage in survival sex and sex work as a way to find shelter when employment and traditional services are restricted. While homelessness is a crisis of its own, being unhoused individuals are exceedingly likely to experience other crises.
Even homeless shelters are not necessarily safe for LGBTQIA+ people – most shelters in the United States stem from religious charity work that eventually evolved into the modern nonprofit industry that exists today. It’s not exactly uncommon for homeless transgender people to feel unsafe while trying to get help from shelters that discriminate on their gender identity, using gendered binary shelters to designate their arrangements regardless of their gender identity. When shelters require ID, LGBTQIA+ people risk discrimination when gender identity and expression don’t fit their ID or legal name. The best way to combat anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination is to report an official complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which can be filed online, over the phone, or by mail. LGBTQIA+ community centers and organizations local to your area can also be helpful in advocating for your rights.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any comprehensive national directories of LGBTQIA+-friendly homeless shelters. Instead, it’s best advised to look at the reviews of local shelters and ask community members in your region whether they’re affirming of queer and transgender people. Ultimately, the best way to determine whether a homeless shelter or program is LGBTQIA+-inclusive is by calling them directly and asking about their policies. Trans Lifeline cites giving direct support in calling homeless shelters in this manner on behalf of transgender callers for free in the United States.
My previous hotline post covers major LGBTQIA+ hotlines around the world – none of them discriminate based on gender identity, and transgender crisis support is a key aspect of their work. The following hotlines are a condensed LGBTQIA+ version of that post with only national US listings, although many major cities have regional LGBTQIA+ hotlines available in addition to those below.
DEQH provides free confidential counseling to LGBTQIA+ South Asians through trained peer support volunteers. DeQH is the first and only national queer Desi helpline and serves anyone from the South Asian diaspora. They are only available to take telephone calls on Thursday and Sunday evenings, although they can be reached during the week through their online contact form for a reply.
Fenway Health is an LGBTQIA+ healthcare, research, and advocacy organization that also provides free information and referrals for LGBTQIA+ issues, harassment, and violence. Both of their helplines are available during select evening hours from Monday to Saturday: the Fenway LGBT Helpline for individuals ages 25 and older can be reached at 617-267-9001, while the Peer Listening Line for those ages 25 and under can be called at 617-267-2535.
LGBT Switchboard of New York is recognized as the oldest LGBTQIA+ hotline in the world and provides free peer support Monday through Saturday. Despite their name, the LGBT Switchboard of New York offers support, care, resources, and information to anyone regardless of where they live by calling 212-989-0999 – including outside of New York and the United States.
MASGD, or the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity, operates the Inara Helpline every Friday and Saturday evening for LGBTQIA+ people who identify or are perceived as Muslim. The MASGD Inara Helpline can be reached by calling 717-864-6272.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, is the largest mental health and crisis hotline in the United States. Using support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 988 routes callers to licensed mental health services based on their location to provide 24/7/365 services by calling the general 988 number. The Lifeline is fully accessible in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL) and also provides services via text/SMS and online chat.
For specifically LGBTQIA+-trained counselors, individuals should press 3 after dialing 988, texting “PRIDE” to 988, or checking the relevant box for LGBTQIA+ support when completing the pre-chat online survey.
SAGE x HearMe is a collaborative project between SAGE, the nation’s largest organization for LGBTQIA+ elders, and HearMe to modernize the national queer senior hotline. SAGE x HearMe operates a mobile app that users can reach anonymously 24/7 to find instant support.
SGR Hotline, or the Sex, Gender, and Relationships Hotline that spun from the LGBTQIA+ Switchboard of San Francisco, provides free confidential counseling on STDs, HIV, pregnancy, birth control, gender identity, sexuality, kinks, sex work, anatomy, and more. Their number at 415-989-7374 is available for callers Monday through Friday.
The Network/La Red is a survivor-led organization that focuses on LGBTQIA+ partner abuse, as well as abuse in kink and polyamorous communities. Their free 24-hour hotline can be fully used by both English and Spanish speakers by calling 800-832-1901 (toll-free) or 617-742-4911 (voice).
The Trevor Project is the primary crisis organization for LGBTQIA+ youth in the United States between the ages of 13 to 24. Their services are available 24/7/365 in collaboration with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The Trevor Project can be reached by phone at 866-488-7386, text/SMS at 678-678, and online chat. TrevorSpace is a moderated online forum available at any time.
Trans Lifeline is a peer support hotline run by trained transgender volunteers for trans, nonbinary, and questioning folks in need of support. Services are fully anonymous, confidential, and do not engage in non-consensual active rescue every Monday through Friday.
THRIVE (Thriving Harnesses Respect, Inclusion, and Vested Empathy) is a text-based crisis line staffed by trained professionals with marginalized identities, catering to people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, disabled people, and other vulnerable people. The text/SMS line is available 24/7/365 by texting “THRIVE” to 313-662-8209.
Trans Rights & Me: Legal Resources
The best source for legal information and steps to update legal names and gender markers on identity documents (such as state IDs, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, passports, social security, selective service, and immigration documents) is Advocates for Trans Equality. Their ID Document Center is a one-stop online hub for transgender folks looking to update their information and is the most current national directory of related resources.
The ability to change one’s legal name or gender marker varies by state – so while it may be easy to update identity documents for individuals who were born in California or Oregon, it’s prohibited elsewhere in the country. Federal documents, like passports, can have their gender marker updated despite state law – although this may change due to the current administration.
Get Help: Transgender Legal Organizations
Advocates for Trans Equality operates its Impact Litigation Program to take on a small number of court opportunities each year to establish trans-affirming precedents in the law through the work of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Their Trans Legal Services Network represents over 80 organizations throughout the United States that provide legal services to transgender people local to their area.
American Civil Liberties Union is one of the primary human rights organizations in the United States that has fought for individual rights and freedoms since 1920. The ACLU operates chapters in each US state to handle court opportunities and case litigation – individuals should contact their local ACLU chapter for legal assistance. In addition, the ACLU also maintains comprehensive legal resource guides on a variety of topics such as LGBTQIA+ rights, disability, religious freedom, criminal law, racial justice, HIV, reproductive freedom, voting, immigration, free speech, etc.
Black & Pink is an LGBTQIA+ prison abolitionist organization with multiple programs aimed to resettle queer and transgender individuals through transitional housing and opportunities.
Equality Federation is a non-partisan lobby and LGBTQIA+ policy organization that pursues pro-equality legislation throughout the United States. Their legislation trackers include current information on both positive and negative trans-related bills among other queer issues.
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders is a national litigation organization that takes on several LGBTQIA+ cases to advance queer and transgender rights throughout the country. They also operate their own Transgender ID Project, although it is more limited than A4TE’s. Unlike A4TE, GLAD has a public online contact form for free and confidential legal information, assistance, and referrals.
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, is an education organization that provides support to LGBTQIA+ public students and educators. The GLSEN Navigator directs online users to the most appropriate GLSEN branch/chapter near them and also provides information on local laws, protections, and research. The Public Policy Office also serves as a hub for legal protections and information about previous court cases GLSEN has provided assistance and litigation for.
GLAAD is an American media and legislation nonprofit that serves to create better representation and visibility for LGBTQIA+ in entertainment. The GLAAD Accountability Project provides public information GLAAD collects by monitoring and documenting high-profile figures and groups that use their platforms to spread misinformation and false rhetoric about LGBTQIA+ communities.
Immigration Equality is America’s leading LGBTQIA+ and HIV-positive immigrant rights organization, providing expert guidance on queer and transgender immigration legal policy while also using impact litigation to advance LGBTQIA+ and immigration rights through far-reaching court cases.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association is a federation of 2,000 organizations in over 160 countries around the world dedicated to promoting LGBTQIA+ rights alongside the United Nations. Through their networks, ILGA brings international attention to human rights violations to the UN and media.
interACT is an intersex rights organization centered on youth empowerment, which employs full-time lawyers to fight for intersex bodily autonomy in the United States.
Lambda Legal is a litigation organization that represents the interests of LGBTQIA+ people in the United States alongside the ACLU and GLAD. Like GLAD, Lambda Legal operates a Help Desk to provide general legal information and resources – although their assistance is not legal advice to the same level as GLAD.
National Black Justice Coalition is the leading civil rights organization for LGBTQIA+ Black Americans, offering toolkits and resources in addition to legislation lobbying in favor of pro-equality bills for queer and transgender rights.
National Center for Lesbian Rights is a civil and human rights organization that supports the rights of all LGBTQIA+ people. Despite their name, the NCLR advocates for all queer and transgender rights through litigation, policy, and public education. They also operate a free legal helpline, available at 800-528-6257 and 415-392-6257.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the oldest national LGBTQIA+ rights organization in the United States that collaborates with over 400 organizations in federal policy advocacy to organize census and voting campaigns through FedWatch.
NMAC, or the National Minority AIDS Council, leads HIV policy and legislation related to communities of color in the United States. Their Advocacy 101 section guides users to become politically active and involved in local legislation with their elected representatives.
Outright Action International is an advocacy organization dedicated to LGBTQIA+ human rights around the world that works with the United Nations to develop global programs and initiatives towards creating a safer world for queer and transgender folks.
Pride Law Fund is a funding service that sponsors legal projects, services, education, and outreach that promote LGBTQIA+ people and individuals living with HIV.
Sylvia Rivera Law Project is a collective that increases the political voice and visibility of low-income people and people of color who are transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming. SRLP’s programs and legal assistance are geared towards transgender people who are at risk of homelessness, have criminal records, or are immigrants.
Transgender Law Center provides impact litigation on select court cases to advance transgender rights in the United States. TLC also provides basic information about laws and policies through their Legal Help Desk, although they do not take on individual cases through the Desk.
Trans Legislation Tracker is an independent research organization that tracks bills related to transgender and nonbinary people in the United States through the work of academics and journalists who publish the Trans Legislation Tracker’s data.
Looking for more information about legal issues, information, and rights? This resource post can guide you through the basics of legal jargon, rights, important court cases, and general resources.Advocates for Trans Equality also has an extensive database of trans-related protections and laws. Both the Movement Advancement Project and Erin in the Morning have up-to-date maps on LGBTQIA+ laws.
Healthcare is a Human Right
Looking for general healthcare resources? This post outlines what medical care is, how to navigate healthcare insurance, and general resources/programs.
Coverage of gender-affirming care by state government healthcare programs like Medicaid and CHIP varies by state, although the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity – which has been further backed by federal courts. This means that all state Medicaid programs have to provide general and gender-affirming healthcare, but each state is allowed to impose specific guidelines or restrictions on having that care paid by Medicaid similar to commercial insurance policies. While some transition-related care can be denied on a case-by-case basis, it has been established that “blanket bans” on transgender care is discriminatory and illegal. However, it’s worth noting that Medicaid access is not equal throughout the United States – 10 states completely deny Medicaid to single adults without children or disabilities. The Movement Advancement Project has an up-to-date map of current Medicaid policies by state and whether gender-affirming care is protected or excluded. A4TE has a directory of Medicaid policies.
On January 28th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the executive order “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.” While executive orders often carry the power of federal law, they do not override the US Constitution, federal statutes and laws, or established legal precedent – nor do they have the longevity of passed laws. The order bans gender-affirming care being covered by state Medicaid programs for anyone under the age of 19, including puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy.
Federal programs vary, and their consistency is subject to the current presidential administration. Medicare currently covers medically necessary gender-affirming care, which includes hormone replacement therapy, surgery, and related consultations – these are listed under Medicare Part D and should be fully covered when prescribed. Indian Health Services (IHS), which covers Native Americans recognized in federally recognized tribes, implies that gender-affirming care is covered by their programs – although there is less explicit guidance of this practice online. TRICARE, the primary healthcare coverage for active service members and their families, only covers select parts of gender-affirming care like HRT – although this is extremely likely to change in 2025 under the new presidential administration and TRICARE will likely deny all gender-affirming coverage in the event transgender people are banned from military service again. This is similar to coverage provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which still only covers some transition-related medical care despite early promises made by the Biden administration to lift the bans imposed by Trump’s first administration. Finally, while all incarcerated individuals are entitled to medical care as determined by Estelle v. Gamble, there is no minimum quality of healthcare required as long as the prison offers any form of medical care – and that care does not have to be free, despite popular belief. While gender-affirming care is considered necessary and intentional barriers are seen as a violation of the Eighth Amendment, it is difficult for transgender prisoners to fight for their medical rights while incarcerated. American prisons are not required to be accredited, although one of the main accrediting bodies – the National Commission on Correctional Health Care – supports gender-affirming care for incarcerated individuals. In other words, gender-affirming care for incarcerated transgender people varies drastically based on the facility they are at.
The Trans Health Project, an initiative through Advocates for Trans Equality, is the primary resource for understanding and navigating healthcare insurance and gender-affirming care in the United States as a transgender person. The site guides users through the process of applying for commercial healthcare, understanding their coverage, and navigating the laws in their state. Half of US states explicitly prohibit health insurance companies from excluding transgender-related services, while the other half of the country has no regulations on what services commercial insurance can prohibit.
Most healthcare insurance programs, regardless of whether they are commercial or government-based, have requirements before gender-affirming care can be covered. Reputable programs will base their requirements on WPATH, or the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which has held the standard for ethical transgender healthcare since 1979. The Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People is used as the international standard for transgender healthcare similar to how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is the standard used for mental health treatments. WPATH and the SOC have clearly stated that gender-affirming care such as hormone replacement therapy and gender confirmation surgery is the best practice based on scientific research for decades. As such, insurance plans and programs use WPATH and SOC guidelines to require transgender people to have “persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria,” the ability to make a fully informed consent, and a set amount of counseling with a mental health professional to receive a medical necessity letter to submit for insurance coverage. A4TE also provides a free template for users to appeal insurance denials of gender-affirming care. Transgender adults have the option to pursue gender-affirming care out-of-pocket to bypass the restrictions imposed by insurance coverage programs – which is covered in financial resources later in this article.
There are additional restrictions for transgender minors, which is a hot topic in current politics during this heightened war on transgender rights. In states where minors are allowed gender-affirming care like puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, or surgery, there are additional requirements and consent must be given by the minor’s parents or legal caregivers. There are currently six states that make it a felony crime to provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors: Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Idaho, and North Dakota.
How to Find Gender-Affirming Care
Just like other medical fields, gender-affirming care can be done in-person or through telehealth – in-person providers are more often covered by healthcare programs, but can be more difficult to access than telehealth.
Will gender-affirming care be banned? The current political distribution of Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court has many transgender people rightfully anxious about the future of their care – especially since the GOP has declared war on “transgenderism.”
It’s not impossible – I’m not going to lie to you. There *is* a worst-case scenario out there where transgender people of all ages are denied gender-affirming care and we are given the options to forcibly detransition, become refugees and leave the United States, seek care illegally, or die. However, this scenario is unlikely. The American public has complicated views on transgender topics, but the majority believes that transgender people should have additional rights to protect them from discrimination. The last two elections have shown that American voters are not nearly as gung ho about erasing transgender rights as the GOP is hedging their bets on – which is what ultimately lost the GOP their “red wave” in 2022. While the upcoming years will be rough, we just have to survive two years before Congress can swing back blue – assuming that Democrats have given up claiming they lost the 2024 election due to being “too woke.”
So what’s realistic? Within the next two years, I can easily see Medicaid no longer being able to cover gender-affirming care like hormone replacement therapy or surgery – although any decision to do so would immediately end up in court since it would violate the Affordable Care Act. On the other hand, that’s likely something the anti-trans GOP wants since they want to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and give in to the commercial healthcare industry’s demands. It is something that would rely on Trump – likely an executive order that bars federal funding from any healthcare provider that performs gender-affirming care. While the GOP has a majority in Congress, their majority is extremely slim and fragile due to their own infighting so any massive bill is improbable unless Democrats fold on LGBTQIA+ rights. Don’t get me wrong – that’s no small thing. Medicaid is used by millions of Americans, including myself, but it would be survivable with enough resourcefulness. Out-of-pocket expenses would increase for transgender folks and we would be more likely to rely on older methods of self-prescribed gender-affirming care before the wide access to providers. However, it would be survivable – especially with the likely increase in mutual aid, donations, fundraising, and international support that would come with such a decision. I don’t think it’s realistic that the act of prescribing gender-affirming care to adults will be nationally criminalized or prohibited, as I described in the above worst-case scenario.
IN-PERSON PROVIDERS
The OutList Provider Directory is a free resource through OutCare, a nonprofit health organization that advocates for comprehensive LGBTQIA+ health. The directory provides information about providers from all fields – including HRT and surgery. For best results, search by tag (“gender-affirming medical care” pulls a good number of results) rather than specialties. Other directories also exist, such as Rad Remedy and MyTransHealth, although these other independent projects have not survived the pandemic as well as OutList.
In a similar vein, TransLine is an information and medical consultation service that explains various gender-affirming techniques like HRT and surgery and includes many of the billing codes that providers have to use for care to be covered by healthcare insurance.
Both WPATH and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) have online directories of healthcare providers that are listed with them. Out of the two, GLMA’s directory is extensively better since its LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is larger and more user-friendly. Similarly, TransHealthCare provides information about transgender-specific surgeons in a more user-friendly format than WPATH. While not necessarily listed in the above directories, Planned Parenthood is one of the largest gender-affirming care providers in the US since most of their local health centers provide HRT and puberty blockers in addition to their other services like STD treatment and abortions. Planned Parenthood didn’t used to provide HRT as widely as now before the rise of anti-transgender legislation – although now it’s a focal point and cornerstone of their mission to provide equitable healthcare.
TELEHEALTH PROVIDERS
During the COVID-19 pandemic, an influx of telehealth created a wealth of transgender healthcare accessibility. There are a number of virtual HRT providers that prescribe gender-affirming care.
An important note on gender-affirming telehealth: HRT through telehealth may soon no longer be an option for transmasculine people seeking testosterone. Due to its history of being abused by predominantly cisgender men, testosterone is a highly classified drug compared to the treatment prescribed to transfeminine folks. Even though more than just transgender men use testosterone, COVID-19 opened the doors for testosterone to finally be able to be prescribed (temporarily) through telehealth for transmasculine people. However, in the years following the pandemic, the FDA and state governments have been attempting to shut down the prescription of testosterone through telehealth despite the well-documented benefits of telehealth for transgender communities during this turbulent political time.
Most major cities have gender clinics (described below in informed consent options), which almost always give telehealth options when available. Additionally, Planned Parenthood has telehealth options available for their services like gender-affirming care. The following are the largest purely telehealth HRT providers in the United States.
QueerDoc is the oldest large-scale HRT telehealth provider, although they’re smaller than the following two options. They operate in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. They don’t accept insurance, but they offer a sliding scale since you’ll be paying out-of-pocket. Compared to FOLX and Plume, QueerDoc is a worse choice due to the pricing but without QueerDoc, there wouldn’t be a FOLX or Plume.
FOLX Health was started a year after QueerDoc and is the largest telehealth option between themselves, QueerDoc, and Plume. FOLX accepts a number of insurance plans to cover their monthly membership fees, copays, medications, and labs. Since FOLX is large enough to have in-person facilities in major cities, FOLX is available in all states – including ones that are banning trans telehealth like Florida. Unfortunately, neither FOLX or Plume are available for minors to use – you have to be at least 18 in most states to use either service, although a few states have an even higher age requirement of 20.
Plume is the youngest of the three main telehealth options and accepts a range of insurance plans. Plume requires a monthly membership to access their providers, which can be covered by insurance plans alongside the copay required for appointments. Unlike QueerDoc, Plume operates as a telehealth provider in nearly the entire US with limited exceptions in states like Florida that are currently banning transgender-related telehealth.
INFORMED CONSENT
Gender clinics refer to medical centers that specialize in transgender-related care – they were especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s and have made a modern resurgence due to the widespread medical consensus that gender-affirming care is the most appropriate treatment for gender dysphoria. These organizations often use informed consent, a process where hormone replacement therapy (or any other treatment) is prescribed to a patient after discussing the potential risks and benefits of HRT and the patient has signed a legal agreement stating they understand and fully consent to the treatment. Compared to traditional routes of pursuing gender-affirming care, informed consent is much faster – after a couple of consultations with a provider, you can physically have your prescribed medication in a couple of weeks. Informed consent allows transgender adults to make their own decisions about their bodies when given complete and accurate information about HRT.
While A4TE has a list of gender centers, I actually recommend Erin in the Morning’s collection. A4TE’s list is limited to facilities associated with research institutions, teaching hospitals, and academic settings – which are more likely to provide care to transgender minors, but woefully incomplete since thousands of informed consent clinics are community health based and not academic (including Planned Parenthood).
LETTER OF NECESSITY
Outside of gender clinics, traditional healthcare providers like most of those listed in directories like OutList will require a letter before they will begin prescribing hormone replacement therapy. This practice dates back to the previous SOC guidance by WPATH (then known as the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association), which requires individuals to find a therapist or counselor to write a letter stating that HRT was deemed suitable and medically necessary. While mental health counseling is recommended for everyone, the required use of letters bars more transgender people than it helps – trans folks are often led to feel like they have to “perform” their transness to get a letter, adhering to common stereotypes that cisgender people have about trans people.
Most mental health professionals qualify to write a letter, as long as they feel comfortable enough doing so – if they don’t feel comfortable and won’t agree to write a letter on your behalf, they’re likely not a good fit for you as a counselor anyway. After receiving your letter, you’ll take it to your HRT provider and soon be prescribed medication. The largest downside to the letter process is the wait times, since mental health care is already considerably less accessible than other medical fields on top of the fact that most counselors will require at least three to six months of regular visits before they will sign off on the letter. On the other end of the spectrum, the vast majority of insurance companies and programs will require a letter to cover HRT since they need it proven that the care is medically necessary enough to cover. Beyond hormone replacement therapy, other forms of gender-affirming care like surgery almost always require at least one letter (if not more) to have a gender confirmation surgeon see you or for insurance companies to pay for your care.
Community Support
For the majority of trans people, online support is the first step to finding support. Trans Lifeline’s Resource Library has a large selection of online support groups, ranging from general support to marginalized groups like people of color, disability, youth, etc.
Nearly all online spaces and social media platforms have transgender-related spaces – like communities on Twitter and Tumblr, groups on Facebook, subreddits, and Discord servers. There are thousands of them, so it’d be impossible to create an exhaustive list – but here are a few major ones on each platform.
Transgender forums have a LOT of history – before the creation of places like Reddit, independent forum websites were the predominant place where transgender people connected in the 1990s when they were unable to find people easily IRL. They were a modern extension of the underground journals and magazines like Transvestia, Drag, Transgender Tapestry, and FTM International. Even though social media platforms like Reddit and Facebook are the mainstream today, many of these forums still exist if you know where to look for them:
There aren’t many large-scale support group organizations – most national LGBTQIA+ groups tend to lead toward activism, politics, and human rights. PFLAG remains the United States’ largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQIA+ people and their loved ones and dates back to 1973. PFLAG has over 400 chapters across the country, each offering regular support through their national resources. Further, PFLAG also has regular virtual meetings and moderated community spaces.
All major cities have an LGBTQIA+ community center of some nature – there are rural towns as small as 15,000 where I live with local queer groups. Urban settings have multiple community centers, queer bars, and other hangouts to find support – finding them is just a matter of searching online for local listings. Trans Resources is a directory of advocacy organizations, legal resources, support and social groups, and other resources – although the site isn’t comprehensive, it lists major organizations.
Beyond support groups, transgender mentorship and letter programs exist to provide folks with an added layer of community.Point of Pride operates a letter program that sends written cards to transgender individuals in need of support, which can be sent to PO Box 7824, Newark DE 19714 where the letters will be received before being sent along. Similar programs exist like the Queer Trans Project (mailed to 3733 University Boulevard W, Suite 216, Jacksonville, Florida 32217), Black and Pink, and the Prisoner Correspondence Project – although the latter two focus on incarcerated LGBTQIA+ people rather than the general public. In contrast, mentorship programs pair individuals with an older or more experienced trans person to help answer questions while guiding you along your journey – some programs include the Sam & Devorah Foundation for Transgender Youth and the Trans Empowerment Project.
Money Matters: Financial Resources
Finances can be a genuine barrier to transgender people’s ability to live authentically as themselves. Without a stable income, it’s difficult to maintain housing or get gender-affirming clothes. Court and legal fees aren’t free – it costs money to update your identity documents to reflect who you are. And of course, you either have to have a healthcare insurance plan that covers counseling and medical bills or be forced to pay for them out-of-pocket.
Resources for employment, housing, and clothes have to be sourced locally through mutual aid networks and community organizations – although this post has some basic resources for low-income individuals.
Legal fees for identity documents can be waived if you qualify based on income.Point of Pride has a list of fee waivers by state, although you’ll want to double-check to ensure your waiver is the most up-to-date method. Most states will use your income itself or other connecting program to determine whether you are eligible – like whether you’re already on government assistance programs like SNAP or Medicaid.
Relatedly, there’s also a growing amount of organizations providing funds to help transgender people move to safer locations to live or access gender-affirming care. Some of these programs include Elevated Access, Trans Justice, TRACTION, and the Trans Continental Pipeline.
Beyond nonprofit and mutual aid funds, many transgender people fundraise to cover their transition costs – especially when their insurance refuses to cover surgery or if they have to unexpectedly move. The most commonly used platforms are GoFundMe, Donorbox, and Facebook – although all of these sites take a percentage of the money raised. GoFundMe is the largest crowdsource site, but it’s known to take the largest cut compared to alternatives. Non-personal organizations and nonprofits have a larger variety of sources out there, like Givebutter, while individuals can raise money without losing a percentage through direct money transfer apps like Cash App, Venmo, Paypal, and Zelle. Out of those options, Cash App is the most widely used underdog since they don’t require a bank account and utilize usernames on their customizable cards, and are easier to navigate with incomes revolving around sex work.
