By: Maya Lakhani
Edited by: James Wen
A group that makes up less than 1% of the population has become a major focus of political and social debate in the United States, for what reason? Currently, the population of transgender people is less than 1% globally, yet they face intense scrutiny and discrimination, evident in hostile media coverage, legislative restrictions, and public debates questioning their rights to healthcare, education, and participation in everyday life. Such rhetoric illustrates how moral panic and scapegoating function in society, channeling broader anxieties about gender, identity, and political change. Transgender people have become a prominent topic in political and cultural discussions, drawing attention that is disproportionate to their small share of the population.
The widespread politicization of transgender identities can be better understood through the concepts of scapegoating and moral panic. Scapegoating occurs when a group is unfairly blamed for broader social problems, while moral panic refers to the exaggerated fear that certain groups pose a threat to societal values. In the case of transgender people, political and media narratives often frame gender diversity as a danger to traditional norms or children’s safety, creating fear and hostility. This framing allows dominant groups to reaffirm conventional gender hierarchies and maintain a sense of social stability in times of cultural change. Social media and partisan news outlets amplify these narratives, spreading misinformation and deepening public anxiety. As a result, attention is diverted from systemic issues such as economic inequality or policy failure, redirecting public frustration toward a small and vulnerable population. By framing gender diversity as a threat to traditional values, political and media actors create a moral panic that offers simple explanations for complex problems. As a result, public frustration over issues like inequality or poor governance is redirected toward transgender people, who become symbolic scapegoats for broader societal tensions.
The perceived threats to social order did not originate with transgender people; such fears have a long historical precedent. For instance, LGBTQ+ moral panics in the 1980s during the AIDS crisis generated widespread fear and stigma against LGBTQ+ individuals, resulting in discrimination and social marginalization. These moral panics typically arise during periods of significant social change and target marginalized communities perceived as different or as “threats” to societal norms. They are characterized by exaggerated fears and often produce policies that disproportionately harm vulnerable groups. Today, politicians continue to use public fears about gender diversity to gain voter support and appear morally strong. Rather than addressing systemic issues such as economic inequality or healthcare access, many politicians use transgender rights symbolically to appeal to certain voter blocs. In the United States, anti-trans rhetoric has been widely used in campaign messaging and legislative proposals, particularly around topics such as gender-affirming care and participation in sports. For example, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and Texas’s restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare have been used to rally conservative voters while diverting attention from broader issues such as healthcare, inequality, and economic instability. These example narratives surrounding transgender people function as a political tool, transforming social anxiety into partisan advantage and therefore reinforcing discrimination.
These political strategies are reinforced by media dynamics, where fear and misinformation are used to shape public opinion. This directly contributes to the scapegoating of the transgender community. Media coverage often amplifies misleading narratives that portray transgender inclusion as a threat to traditional gender norms or public safety, creating social tension around change rather than around transgender people themselves. Politicians have blamed transgender individuals for “threatening” women’s sports, fueling moral panic over bathroom access, and framing trans-inclusive education as detrimental to children. These narratives exaggerate supposed risks to women’s safety, children’s well-being, and social order, even though no credible evidence supports such claims.
The influence of such narratives becomes particularly evident in political decision-making and public policy. A specific instance of political targeting is the “No Men in Women’s Sports” initiative. During Donald Trump’s presidency, direct attacks on transgender people often took the form of policies banning transgender women from participating in women’s athletic events. This exemplifies how trans identities are both weaponized and scapegoated within broader culture, allowing political leaders to appeal to conservative voters by excluding a small and vulnerable population from full and fair participation in public life. Such policies reflect not only institutional discrimination but also a symbolic effort to define national identity through opposition to gender diversity.
Even outlets typically considered liberal, such as The Atlantic, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The New Yorker, have contributed to anti-trans discourse by framing trans existence as a subject for “debate.” For example, the idea of “science” has been used to justify discrimination. There are common claims of biological objectivity, asserting that there are “only two true genders” or portraying trans people as unnatural.
Anti-trans narratives not only shape public opinion, but materialize into policies that restrict rights and access to essential services. Across the U.S., dozens of states have introduced or passed laws limiting gender-affirming care, banning trans youth from sports, or restricting bathroom and pronoun use for transgender individuals. These measures contribute to harmful outcomes as studies show that denial of care correlates with worsened mental health among transgender youth, while restrictions on healthcare access exacerbate existing health disparities. Simultaneously, social hostility and discrimination from families, schools, and communities increase, forcing many to hide their identities or avoid necessary services altogether.
Despite comprising less than 1% of the population, transgender people evidently face disproportionate scrutiny and scapegoating in the U.S. Political rhetoric, media narratives, and legislative actions amplify fear and moral panic, diverting attention from systemic issues and reinforcing discrimination. Addressing these injustices requires confronting the societal anxieties and power dynamics that target this vulnerable community.
Image Citation: Pixabay. (2019). Pixabay.com. https://pixabay.com/photos/flag-pride-rainbow-symbol-lesbian-4552833/
References:
Baeth, A., & Goorevich, A. (2022). How U.S. Politicians are Using Moral Panics to Sideline Trans Athletes. Engaging Sports. https://thesocietypages.org/engagingsports/2022/06/23/how-u-s-politicians-are-using-moral-panics-to-sideline-trans-athletes
Cebulash, T. (2023, October 16). Campaign Message: Message vs. Issue – Do You Know the Difference? Www.thecampaignworkshop.com. https://www.thecampaignworkshop.com/blog/campaign-message/campaign-message
Coates, E. (2023, August 31). Panic: A True American Pastime. Voices Digital. https://www.pacificoaks.edu/voices/from-the-magazine/panic-a-true-american-pastime/
Douglas, A. (2016, November 22). The dirty politics of scapegoating – and why victims are always the harmless, easy targets. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-dirty-politics-of-scapegoating-and-why-victims-are-always-the-harmless-easy-targets-66963
Florêncio, J. (2019, January 29). AIDS: homophobic and moralistic images of 1980s still haunt our view of HIV – that must change. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/aids-homophobic-and-moralistic-images-of-1980s-still-haunt-our-view-of-hiv-that-must-change-106580
Frothingham, M. B. (2023, August 31). Moral panic and folk devils. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/folk-devils-and-moral-panics-cohen-1972.html
House of Commons Canada. (n.d.). Legislative Process – Our Procedure – ProceduralInfo – House of Commons of Canada. Www.ourcommons.ca. https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/our-procedure/LegislativeProcess/c_g_legislativeprocess-e.html
Lucas, R., Geierstanger, S., & Soleimanpour, S. (2024). Mental Health Needs, Barriers, and Receipt of Care Among Transgender and Nonbinary Adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 75(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.03.009
Prejudice Theory: Scapegoat Theory | EBSCO. (2021). EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | Www.ebsco.com. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/prejudice-theory-scapegoat-theory
Redfield, E., Conron, K., & Mallory, C. (2024, April). The impact of 2024 anti-transgender legislation on youth. Williams Institute. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/2024-anti-trans-legislation/
Reisner, S. L., Poteat, T., Keatley, J., Cabral, M., Mothopeng, T., Dunham, E., Holland, C. E., Max, R., & Baral, S. D. (2016). Global health burden and needs of transgender populations: a review. The Lancet, 388(10042), 412–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(16)00684-x
Ridgeway, C. L. (2009). Framed Before We Know It: How Gender Shapes Social Relations. Gender & Society, 23(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243208330313
Thoreson, R. (2022, February 17). Florida Advances “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/02/17/florida-advances-dont-say-gay-bill
Wark, M. (2025, March 12). The Scapegoating of Trans People in Trump’s America. Frieze.com. https://www.frieze.com/article/scapegoating-trans-people-trumps-america