In just a decade, we witnessed one of history’s fastest social transformations. Now it’s crumbling.
The transgender movement exploded from obscurity to radically reshaping American society. Among kids, the number identifying as transgender jumped from barely-registered to 3%, with millions of children questioning their gender identity.
This wasn’t just an American phenomenon – Sweden saw a 1,500% surge in teen girls seeking gender treatments, while UK gender clinic referrals skyrocketed 4,400% in a decade. Seemingly unstoppable, activists saw victory after victory, upending everything from school policies to medical guidelines.
But the warning signs were there from the start. The early flips in the script – like exponentially more teen girls, not boys, suddenly identifying as trans – went largely unquestioned. Under the banner of acceptance, critical thinking withered.
As the movement’s power grew, so did its overreach.
It started with them targeting kids. Explicit materials snuck into school libraries. “Family-friendly” drag shows featured adult performers gyrating with wide-eyed children. Districts began stealthily “socially transitioning” students at school behind parents’ backs.
Even more alarming was the explosion in medical transitions for minors. From 2017-2021, nearly 18,000 children – some as young as 10 – started puberty blockers or sex hormones, often with irreversible effects. Over 5,000 underwent surgeries like double mastectomies.
Schools weren’t just “supportive” but integrated activism deep into their curriculum, often keeping parents in the dark about their children’s gender questions.
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The collision with women’s rights proved equally problematic. Lia Thomas became an early flashpoint – a mediocre male swimmer who, after transitioning, dominated women’s competitions. Female athletes suddenly found themselves losing races, scholarships, and opportunities to biological males.
Women’s spaces like locker rooms and crisis shelters no longer offered protection. The message was clear: Hard-won sex-based rights were now secondary to gender identity.
It was too much, too fast, and the backlash was brewing. Early adopters of pediatric transition, like the UK and Sweden, slammed on the brakes as risks became apparent. The detransitioner movement surged as many, mostly young women, expressed deep regret over rushing into hormones and surgery. Among females starting transition, over a third stopped treatment.
Public opinion shifted seismically. By 2024, 55% of Americans believed the movement had gone too far, including 1 in 4 Democrats. Nearly 70% said trans athletes should compete based on birth sex. Corporations and Hollywood began tiptoeing away as boycotts mounted.
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The 2024 Election
For the first time, the issue swayed elections, as Trump and Republicans went all-in on the culture war flashpoint. Democrats found themselves wrong-footed, with even liberal politicians openly questioning the party’s increasingly extreme stances. The movement, once untouchable, suddenly looked vulnerable.
During his debate with Kamala Harris, Trump pounced on her support for transgender inmate surgeries. His campaign blitzed the airwaves with attack ads, including one that became 2024’s most effective political spot. It moved persuadable voters more than any ad in years.
All told, Republicans dropped over $200 million on transgender-focused messaging, a record for socially conservative ads in a presidential race. And it worked – Trump peeled away enough moderates to eke out a win.
Post-election, even Democratic politicians revolted. Congressman Seth Moulton captured the moment: “I have two little girls. I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male athlete. But as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.”
The backlash hit corporate America too. Companies that had previously embraced gender ideology scaled back their messaging after consumer boycotts. Hollywood became quieter on the issue.
Just Wednesday, Disney announced it was removing a transgender storyline from upcoming Pixar series, “Win or Lose.” A Disney spokesperson said, “When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.”
A year ago, that comment from Disney would have been shocking but the pendulum is now swinging hard the other way.
The dizzying rise is over, and the movement is now on defense.
I dig deeper into this transformation in my latest video. Check it out to get the complete picture of how this social revolution rose and fell in record time. It’s case study in how ideological movements can fly too close to the sun.
Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and honest insight for people curious how the world really works. Follow Ken on Substack