Fascists and the far right are using transphobia as a tool for political manipulation.
Transphobia and Far-Right Politics
Historically, transphobia has been a recurring theme in far-right politics, often used as a tool for propaganda and violence. This is seen in the American far-right's use of transphobic narratives as part of their broader political strategies.
The resurgence of anti-trans sentiment is linked to crises within liberal democratic systems. The systems are not able to provide the social, economic and cultural stability many seek. The fascists and the right wing extremists pretend they represent the "common man" in their struggle against "the elite" or "the deep state".
Transphobia is used by fascist movements as a radicalizing recruitment tool. This involves mobilizing trans-exclusionary feminist rhetoric, which appeals to concepts like "human nature" and "biological reality" to legitimize anti-trans positions.
Such rhetoric simplifies complex issues and denies nuance, making it easier to radicalize individuals towards fascist ideologies.
This tactic is especially effective used against vulnerable, confused and alienated young people, and in particularly young men who find it hard to establish a constructive and accepted male identity in a world of increasing gender equality.
Neo-fascist groups use transphobia to gain public support by framing trans people as scapegoats for societal issues such as the loss of traditional gender roles and the perceived threat to women's spaces.
This strategy involves aligning with trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) groups, which helps normalize neo-fascist discourse and expand its influence. When J.K. Rowling went out and denied the Nazi persecution of trans women in Germany, she actively contributed to a white washing of fascist beliefs.
Capitalism and Crisis
The rise of transphobia and fascism is also linked to broader economic crises. As capitalism faces global challenges, fascism emerges as a response, using transphobia to recruit and enforce repressive policies. Media conglomerate, and in particular right wing media, facilitate the spread of these ideologies.
Modern social media makes it much easier to spread conspiracy theories of this kind. Having a right wing, transphobic extremist – Elon Musk – in control of twitter, one of the major social media platforms is not helping.
The German Nazi's use of transphobia
The German Nazis used transphobia as part of their broader campaign of persecution and ideological control.
One of the most significant actions taken by the Nazis against transgender people was the attack on the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft (Institute of Sexology) in 1933. This institute, founded by Magnus Hirschfeld, was a pioneering center for research and medical care for transgender individuals. The Nazis raided the institute, destroyed its records, and burned tens of thousands of books and medical documents, setting back transgender and LGBTQ+ rights and research by decades.
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| Magnus Hirschfeld's sexology institute was raided by Nazis who burned books and documents |
Transgender individuals, along with other LGBTQ+ communities, were targeted as part of the Nazis' broader campaign to "purify" German society. The regime promoted hypermasculinity and traditional gender roles, leaving no place for gender non-conforming individuals. Trans people were demonized as threats to societal norms and were often rounded up and sent to concentration camps.
The Nazis used transphobia to reinforce their fascist ideology, which was obsessed with notions of racial purity and the elimination of perceived societal "filth." Transgender people were portrayed as subversive elements that undermined the German identity and were linked to other groups the Nazis sought to eliminate, such as Jews and Communists.
The Weimar Republic, preceding the Nazi regime, had been relatively progressive regarding LGBTQ+ rights, which made it easier for the Nazis to identify and persecute individuals from these communities. The Nazis capitalized on existing societal prejudices to justify their actions and further their agenda.
Overall, the Nazis' use of transphobia was part of a larger strategy to enforce conformity, eliminate diversity, and consolidate power through fear and persecution.
- Transphobia and neo-fascism are two sides of the same coin
- Othering, peaking, populism and moral panics: The reactionary strategies of organised transphobia
- Why Transphobia Is at the Heart of the White Power Movement
- The Time-Tested Practice of Using Transphobia to Seize Power
- Transphobic Violence Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum
- How Nazi Germany Persecuted Transgender People
- Elon Musk is destroying one of our most important transgender social arenas: Twitter.
- Fascism and the Trans Villain: Historically Recurring Transphobia in Far-Right Politics
- Trans-exclusionary movement is the new gateway to fascism, racist ideologies
- Yes, J.K. Rowling, the Nazis persecuted trans people, burned books
- The Forgotten History of the World's First Trans Clinic
