My Perspective on the Global Rise of Gender-Critical Movements
When the Ground Shifted Beneath MeWhen I began my transition, I expected the challenges that come with personal transformation: understanding my identity, navigating health care, and adjusting to a new social landscape. What I didn't expect was how global politics would crash into that journey like a wave, especially after the defeat of the Democratic Party in the 2024 U.S. elections.
Since the defeat of the Democratic Party in the 2024 U.S. elections, life as a transgender woman has changed rapidly and harshly. I've seen rights that once felt secure begin to erode, even in states considered "safe."
As a transgender woman living in the United States, I've felt a seismic shift since that election. Laws and protections that once offered at least a measure of safety and dignity are being rapidly rolled back. In some states, gender-affirming care has vanished. Teachers are threatened with punishment for acknowledging trans students. Some of us have even begun to consider the need for internal asylum, relocating to "blue" states like California and New York, which are now among the few places offering relative refuge.
But even there, the federal government casts a long shadow. State protections can be overridden or ignored when federal agencies adopt policies hostile to trans people.
We live with a growing fear: that no state may ultimately be safe if the federal agenda continues in this direction.
And it's not just happening in the United States.
I was surprised to learn that similar tensions are playing out in other countries, though not always in the same political frame. Take the United Kingdom, for example. There, a powerful and highly visible gender-critical movement insists that legal recognition of trans people threatens the rights of cisgender women. Unlike in the U.S., this movement isn't confined to the political right; many of its most vocal supporters identify as progressive or feminist.
In the UK, the term "gender-critical" is often used to describe a viewpoint that asserts "biological sex" should be the primary or sole determinant in law and policy. This movement has gained mainstream media traction, and it has influenced court decisions and legislative proposals. Even existing laws, like the Gender Recognition Act 2004, are being reinterpreted in ways that cast doubt on the legal status of transgender women like me.
Contrast that with the U.S., where the most aggressive attacks on trans rights come from far-right religious and political groups. Their tactics are more overtly hostile centered on demonizing trans people, particularly trans youth, and erasing our existence through law.
Both countries, and others like Germany, Australia, and some Nordic nations, are wrestling with these issues, but with different cultural and political scripts. What they have in common, however, is an increasing resistance to the very idea that trans people deserve to live openly and safely.
This is not just a local or national struggle. It's a global one. And the ground is shifting fast.
As someone just trying to live truthfully and with integrity, I didn't think I'd need to understand geopolitics or legal battles across oceans.
But here I am, learning that the personal really is political, and that our identities are being legislated, debated, and too often invalidated not just where we live, but everywhere.
What Is the UK's Gender-Critical Movement?In the UK, "gender-critical" is a label embraced by individuals who argue that legal and social recognition of transgender identities should never override so-called "biological sex." They often position themselves as defenders of women's rights, especially in spaces like bathrooms, prisons, and sports.
This movement has gained surprising legitimacy, supported by celebrities like J.K. Rowling and even some left-leaning feminists. Unlike in the U.S., where anti-trans rhetoric is mostly rooted in far-right politics, the UK's gender-critical voice is more mainstream and sometimes crosses traditional political lines.
This makes it even harder to challenge, and more dangerous in its normalization.
As someone who identifies as a trans woman, it's jarring to see how these ideologies play out not just in law, but in everyday attitudes, even from those who claim to be progressive.
What's Happening in the U.S.?Here in America, the backlash looks different, but it's no less intense. Since the Republican victory in 2024, we've witnessed a cascade of state-level legislation targeting trans people. Gender-affirming care has been restricted or outright banned in many areas, IDs are being flagged, and even our historical contributions are being erased from public records.
The movement here isn't just about discomfort with gender diversity, it's part of a larger culture war, often fueled by religious conservatism, misinformation, and fear. The political divide is stark. While the Democratic Party generally supports trans rights, Republican lawmakers are introducing wave after wave of anti-trans bills.
And yet, despite the different tone, both the UK and U.S. are making it harder, and scarier, for people like me to live openly and safely.
What About Other Countries?The UK and U.S. aren't alone in this struggle.
Around the world:
Canada remains relatively progressive, though there are pockets of resistance.
Germany has passed new gender self-ID laws but still faces conservative backlash.
Nordic countries, once considered models of inclusion, are now reassessing access to trans healthcare for youth.
Australia and New Zealand experience similar debates, though generally with less intensity.
The struggle is global, and it's deeply personal.
Why This MattersWhen people debate our right to exist, it's not just political, it's existential. I've faced the internal struggles of self-discovery, the bravery of coming out, the emotional labor of building a new life in my truth. But these movements, gender-critical in the UK, anti-trans in the U.S., try to rewrite the narrative. They attempt to cast our identities as threats, our presence as a problem.
The truth is, I'm not a threat. I'm a human being doing her best to heal, grow, and contribute to a better world.
And I'm not alone.
We are witnessing a global backlash, but also a global awakening.
And in that awakening, there is hope. People are resisting, building community, and telling the truth about our lives.
Final ThoughtsThe more I learn, the more I realize that our fight is interconnected across borders. Whether you're in London, New York, Berlin, or anywhere else, trans people deserve dignity, safety, and recognition.
If you're trans, questioning, or an ally: you're not imagining the tension. You're not being "too sensitive." You're living in a world where our identities are being politicized and challenged in ways that demand both awareness and solidarity.
And yet we continue. We breathe, we hope, we transition, we speak, and we love.
Because our truth is not a debate.
About the Author
By Lilis 💗Lilis is a trans woman, self-diagnosed intersex, and bisexual New Yorker who embraces her identity as both transgender and genderfluid. She is five years sober and lives her life rooted in spiritual faith, seeking to align with God's love through Christ. Lilis is passionate about healing personally and collectively, and feels called to help those navigating gender identity, addiction, mental health.
